Donald Trump with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir (PTI file photo)
Pakistan’s fragile economy is spending an estimated $900,000 every month on lobbying efforts in the United States, taking its annual outlay to roughly $10-12 million, according to public disclosures filed under the US foreign agents registration act (FARA).The spending comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with mounting economic challenges. Alongside a worsening water crisis after India put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, the country has also been hit by rising fuel and LPG prices in the aftermath of the Iran war.Pakistan continues to struggle under a heavy debt burden and remains dependent on support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Despite securing bailout packages, the economy remains vulnerable to recurring fiscal pressures, foreign exchange shortages and sluggish growth.FARA filings paint a picture of an extensive influence campaign aimed at strengthening Islamabad’s position in Washington even as it confronts economic and diplomatic challenges at home.The disclosures reveal a network of lobbying firms hired to improve Pakistan’s standing on issues ranging from security cooperation and trade to broader diplomatic outreach. Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev told news agency ANI that the scale of Islamabad’s lobbying effort reflects its determination to secure access and influence in Washington.”Recent reports indicating a $1.2 million contract are not unusual for Washington. All foreign governments retain lobbyists at various times,” Sachdev said.”According to public FARA data, Pakistan is currently spending approximately $900,000 every month on lobbying. This includes a $50,000-a-month contract for meetings involving the interior minister and another firm charging $250,000 a month to navigate trade issues,” he added.Sachdev also mentioned that one lobbying firm hired in October for $25,000 a month recently saw its contract expanded to $1.2 million, highlighting Pakistan’s growing urgency to strengthen its image and influence in Washington.The documents also raise questions about claims made by Pakistan army chief Asim Munir. Speaking at a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Munir claimed that India had sought mediation through the United States during the military tensions between the two countries.”India expressed the desire for mediation through the American leadership, which Pakistan accepted in the interest of wider regional peace,” Munir was quoted as saying by Dawn News.However, FARA filings reviewed by ANI suggest that Pakistan intensified its lobbying efforts in Washington at the same time India was carrying out military operations under Operation Sindoor.Between May 6 and May 9, last year, Pakistani representatives recorded nearly 60 interactions with officials and lawmakers across Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the US treasury department. These engagements took place during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.After suffering a major setback during Operation Sindoor, Asim Munir also made frequent visits to the US in a bid to gain greater recognition and earn Donald Trump’s “back-patting”, seeking to be seen as the MAGA supremo’s “favourite field marshal”.While Pakistani lobbyists were actively engaging with US policymakers, Indian armed forces were conducting strikes on major terror hubs sheltered by Pakistan.Last year, India launched precision strikes on nine key terror hubs linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and other Pakistan-based terror outfits. When Pakistan intervened in India’s counterterror operation, New Delhi escalated its response by targeting major Pakistani military installations, including the strategically important Nur Khan and Rahim Yar Khan airbases.The FARA disclosures indicate that even as Pakistan’s military leadership projected confidence in public, its lobbying teams in Washington were working intensely behind the scenes during the period of military escalation.
