New Delhi, India, January 7 (ANI): FARA disclosures reveal that Pakistan launched an aggressive lobbying campaign in Washington following India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Islamabad sought US support to maintain its place on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) whitelist, according to documents submitted under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The filings show that Pakistan conveyed its concerns and appeals through registered lobbyists, emphasizing its political commitment to the international community and requesting US assistance ahead of the FATF plenary scheduled for June 2025.
Operation Sindoor involved India’s armed forces carrying out precision strikes on Pakistani military installations in May, following earlier operations targeting terror camps on May 7. The conflict led to intensified cross-border shelling from Pakistan and retaliatory strikes by India on 11 of Islamabad’s military installations, causing significant damage. The escalation ended after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations proposed a ceasefire, which was accepted, a move confirmed by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
According to the FARA documents, Pakistan repeatedly contacted its lobbying firm, Squire Patton Boggs, via email, phone, and in-person meetings under the agenda of “U.S.-Islamic Republic of Pakistan Bilateral Relations,” seeking guidance on how best to manage ties with Washington. Pakistan also reached out to another firm, appealing for continued inclusion on the FATF whitelist.
Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list in October 2022, after being placed there in 2018, and assured US officials that it remains committed to completing all residual FATF referrals. Islamabad described its progress since removal as “significant and consistent” and sought US support to ensure “procedural fairness” in the upcoming plenary. Documents show that Pakistan credited the US for “extremely helpful support” during previous FATF action plans and expressed confidence that Washington would acknowledge its progress “on technical merits and fairness.”
The filings also revealed Pakistan’s objections to the introduction of “new issues beyond mandate” in FATF assessments, with an apparent reference to India’s strong anti-terror stance.
These disclosures underscore Pakistan’s extensive lobbying efforts in Washington, highlighting attempts to shield itself from international accountability even as India decisively targeted terror infrastructure in PoJK and Pakistan. The documents also reinforce recognition of India’s strategic precision and regional influence, supporting New Delhi’s position that counter-terrorism compliance and international oversight should be based on concrete action and facts rather than political pressure or lobbying.
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