Million Dollars A Month: What Bankrupt Pakistan Spends On Lobbying TrumpPublished By :,Last Updated: June 01, 2026, 13:01 ISTBetween May 6 and May 9, 2025, Pakistani agents recorded nearly 60 interactions involving Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the US Treasury.
Lobbying costs reach nearly $1 million a monthThe scale of Pakistan’s lobbying campaign was highlighted by foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev in a conversation with ANI.
According to Sachdev, public FARA data shows that Pakistan is currently spending about $900,000 every month on lobbying activities.
According to him, the increase reflects a major expansion of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts in Washington.
Pakistan’s diplomatic pushThe lobbying disclosures have drawn attention because they suggest intensive diplomatic activity by Pakistan at a time when its military leadership was publicly projecting confidence.
Million Dollars A Month: What Bankrupt Pakistan Spends On Lobbying Trump
Published By :
,
Last Updated: June 01, 2026, 13:01 IST
Between May 6 and May 9, 2025, Pakistani agents recorded nearly 60 interactions involving Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the US Treasury.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L), Army Chief and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (R) posing with US President Donald Trump (C) at the White House in Washington, DC. (File Photo: AFP)
Pakistan is spending close to a million dollars every month on lobbying efforts in Washington, according to public disclosures filed in the United States, even as its military leadership has claimed that India begged for American mediation for a ceasefire during last year’s Operation Sindoor.
Records filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) show that Islamabad is spending between $10 million and $12 million annually in an effort to manage growing diplomatic and defence challenges.
Lobbying costs reach nearly $1 million a month
The scale of Pakistan’s lobbying campaign was highlighted by foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev in a conversation with ANI.
Sachdev said the contracts being awarded to lobbying firms are intended to secure access for Pakistani officials at senior levels of the US government. “Recent reports indicating a $1.2 million contract are not unusual for Washington. All foreign governments retain lobbyists at various times," he said.
According to Sachdev, public FARA data shows that Pakistan is currently spending about $900,000 every month on lobbying activities.
He pointed to several contracts, including one worth $50,000 a month aimed at arranging meetings for Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Another firm is reportedly receiving $250,000 a month to help address trade-related issues.
New contract raises questions
Sachdev also noted that a lobbying firm initially hired in October for $25,000 a month had recently secured a much larger contract worth $1.2 million.
According to him, the increase reflects a major expansion of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts in Washington. The public record of these contracts stands in contrast to comments recently made by Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Asim Munir, who was later promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Munir claimed that India had sought mediation from the United States during the recent military confrontation.
According to Dawn Newspaper, Munir said India had expressed a desire for mediation through the American leadership and that Pakistan accepted the proposal in the interest of regional peace.
What FARA records tell?
However, lobbying disclosures reviewed by ANI present a different picture. The filings show that Pakistani representatives were actively engaging with American officials during the period of heightened tensions.
Between May 6 and May 9, 2025, Pakistani agents recorded nearly 60 interactions involving Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the US Treasury.
The timing coincided with Operation Sindoor, India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Activity coincided with Operation Sindoor
While Pakistani lobbyists were conducting meetings in Washington, India launched a series of military operations across the border.
According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Defence, Indian forces carried out coordinated precision strikes during the night of May 6 and May 7, 2025. The operation targeted nine terror-linked sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The military action was presented as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Pakistan’s diplomatic push
The lobbying disclosures have drawn attention because they suggest intensive diplomatic activity by Pakistan at a time when its military leadership was publicly projecting confidence.
According to the filings cited by ANI, Pakistani representatives were engaged in extensive outreach efforts across key American institutions during the period of military escalation.
The records highlight that while public statements focused on mediation and regional stability, significant resources were simultaneously being devoted to lobbying and diplomatic engagement in Washington.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit
Location : Islamabad, Pakistan
First Published: June 01, 2026, 12:39 IST
News world Million Dollars A Month: What Bankrupt Pakistan Spends On Lobbying Trump
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
