NEW DELHI: Indian military retaliation against the terror attack in Pahalgam led Pakistan to frantically seek US mediation to make New Delhi pause the strikes deep inside its territory.Disclosures from US FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) filings reveal that between May 7, when IAF struck headquarters of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen, and May 10, when Pakistan director general of military operations Major General Kashif Abdullah rang up his Indian counterpart Lt General Rajiv Ghai, Islamabad had launched an urgent lobbying campaign in Washington. Pakistani diplomats, including its ambassador and defence attache, initiated over 60 points of contact – comprising meetings, calls and emails – with high-ranking US officials and media outlets to solicit international intervention. The details are part of the filings by Squire Patton Boggs, hired by Pakistan for lobbying and which, like other US lobbying firms, are mandated to share with the US Department of Justice, the details and nature of their dealings. A majority of meetings were sought between the onset of Operation Sindoor and the eventual suspension of India’s military operations with requests to secure American mediation to “somehow halt” India’s retaliatory military operations. While Pakistan tried to dismiss the impact of India’s strikes, the records confirm a high-level of behind-the-scenes panic.Pakistan had hired lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs originally to help it steer away from FATF grey list. An email from its representative and former US ambassador Paul W Jones to US diplomat Elizabeth K Horst on May 14, 2025, sought a meeting with Eric (Garcetti, US ambassador to India) to “discuss and hear his perspectives to move the relationship forward”.The email read: “Squire Patton Boggs is a registered agent of the govt of Pakistan. We’d very much appreciate your feedback on the attached one-page outline of ways forward in US-Pakistan relationship – Did we miss anything or would anything sound off-key in Washington? Separately, do you think we could try again to schedule a meeting with Eric to discuss and hear his perspectives on how best to move the relationship forward? Finally, I’d appreciate the opportunity to speak with you or a member of your team on FATF, in order to better understand the lay of the land.”The firm is said to have circulated documents in diplomatic circles on behalf of Pak “appreciating constructive role played by US and President Trump’s expressed willingness to support efforts aimed at the resolution of J&K”. The documents sought “critical minerals agreement” and bilateral relations with US independent of ties with its neighbours, shortly after Operation Sindoor.
