New Delhi, January 7 (ANI): Fresh disclosures under the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) have revealed an extensive lobbying campaign launched by Pakistan in Washington following India’s decisive military action against terror infrastructure during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
According to documents filed with the US Department of Justice, Islamabad aggressively sought American support to retain its position on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) whitelist, shortly after India destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Operation Sindoor and Escalation
India’s Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. In the early hours of May 7, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes on nine terror camps located across Pakistan and PoJK.
The conflict escalated further as India targeted multiple Pakistani military installations later in May. In response, Pakistan intensified cross-border shelling, prompting retaliatory action by Indian forces against 11 Pakistani military facilities, causing significant damage.
The confrontation took an unexpected turn when Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) proposed a ceasefire to his Indian counterpart. The proposal was accepted, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later confirmed that both sides agreed to halt military operations on land, sea, and air.
Pakistan’s Lobbying Push in Washington
FARA filings reveal that following these events, Pakistan rapidly activated registered lobbying firms in the United States to engage American officials under the banner of “U.S.–Islamic Republic of Pakistan Bilateral Relations.”
One disclosed email from lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs, a registered agent of the Pakistani government, sought guidance from US officials on advancing bilateral ties and requested meetings with senior American policymakers.
The documents indicate frequent outreach through emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings, with a key focus on securing US backing ahead of the June 2025 FATF plenary.
FATF Whitelist Concerns
Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list in October 2022, after being under increased monitoring since 2018. The grey list designation had restricted Pakistan’s access to international financial assistance due to concerns over money laundering and terror financing.
In its communications, Islamabad assured continued commitment to FATF standards and claimed readiness to resolve what it described as “five residual items” through bilateral information exchanges. Pakistan asserted that it had made “significant and consistent progress” in strengthening its domestic anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing frameworks.
Pakistan also acknowledged that earlier FATF proceedings had been “protracted and combative” and sought US assistance to ensure what it termed “procedural fairness” in future assessments.
Allegations of Politicisation
The FARA documents further reveal that Pakistan objected to the inclusion of what it called “new issues beyond mandate” in FATF’s final review. Islamabad accused an unnamed “particular jurisdiction” of politicising the FATF process through media campaigns—an apparent reference to India’s sustained international advocacy against terrorism.
Pakistan credited the United States for what it described as “extremely helpful support” during previous FATF action plans and expressed confidence that Washington would again recognise Pakistan’s progress on “technical merits and fairness.”
India’s Position Reinforced
The disclosures underline Pakistan’s efforts to mitigate international scrutiny through diplomatic and lobbying channels, even as India demonstrated military precision in targeting terror infrastructure across the border.
The revelations also reinforce New Delhi’s long-standing position that global counter-terrorism mechanisms must be guided by verifiable action and accountability, not political pressure or lobbying.
The FARA filings highlight growing international recognition of India’s strategic resolve and regional security posture, while drawing renewed attention to Pakistan’s reliance on external influence to counter scrutiny over terror financing and militancy. (ANI)
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