How Cash-Strapped Pakistan Spent $50,000 A Month On US Lobbyists While India Pounded It During Operation Sindoor

Despite facing pounding from India, Pakistan mounted an extensive lobbying campaign in Washington DC during and after India’s Operation Sindoor. The cash-strapped, bankrupt country reached out to senior leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties, according to disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

The filings reveal that established lobbying firms as well as newer players worked on Islamabad’s behalf, targeting top lawmakers in the US House of Representatives and the Senate, along with influential figures handling foreign policy and South Asia-related issues.

Among the firms involved were Squire Patton Boggs (SPG), a long-established Washington lobbying outfit, and Javelin Advisors, a relatively new firm with close links to former US President Donald Trump.

Pakistan Hired Javelin Advisors During India’s Operation Sindoor

Javelin Advisors was hired by Pakistan in April for a monthly fee of $50,000, according to its filings with the DOJ. The firm was founded by Keith Schiller, Donald Trump’s former bodyguard, along with George Sorial, a former executive at the Trump Organisation.

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During Operation Sindoor, Javelin Advisors reached out to the offices of several senior US political leaders across party lines. These included Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

In addition to party leadership, Javelin Advisors targeted lawmakers who head or serve on influential congressional committees dealing with foreign affairs and South Asia.

What Lobbying Firms Did For Pakistan DuringIndia’s Operation Sindoor

According to the disclosures, the firm arranged a call on May 7 between Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The discussion focused on tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

Javelin Advisors also contacted the offices of Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Tom Cotton, and Richard Blumenthal. These senators serve on key Senate committees, including foreign relations, intelligence, and armed services, all of which play a role in shaping US policy towards South Asia.

Another Lobbying Firm, Squire Patton Boggs, Hired By Pakistan

Squire Patton Boggs, another firm working for Pakistan, led outreach efforts to more than a dozen members of the US House of Representatives during Operation Sindoor.

According to lobbying disclosures, the stated objective of these engagements was to discuss “US–Islamic Republic of Pakistan Bilateral Relations.” Several of the lawmakers contacted served on the House subcommittee for South and Central Asian affairs, which handles issues related to both India and Pakistan.

The disclosures further show that Squire Patton Boggs disseminated an informational note summarising Pakistan’s position on Operation Sindoor.

The note accuses India of supporting terrorism within Pakistan and categorically denies any Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack that took place in April. It also expresses support for US President Donald Trump’s willingness to help resolve the Kashmir dispute.

“Having demonstrated its unique ability to avert all-out war, the United States should remain engaged to help India and Pakistan reach verifiable agreements. Pakistan would welcome a U.S. mediating role,” the note circulated by Squire Patton Boggs states.

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