Pakistan made nearly 60 urgent representations to senior officials in the Trump administration to halt India’s Operation Sindoor, spending about ₹45 crore on lobbying efforts in Washington, according to documents filed with the US Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The disclosures indicate that the Indian Army’s precision strikes on the night of May 6-7, during which nine terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan were destroyed within 24 minutes, triggered intense diplomatic activity by Islamabad aimed at preventing further escalation.
According to the filings, Pakistan activated its diplomatic network in the United States almost immediately after the launch of Operation Sindoor in April last year. Pakistani diplomats reached out to officials across the White House, State Department, Pentagon and members of the US Congress through emails, phone calls and in-person meetings, seeking a ceasefire and a pause in India’s military operations. These engagements continued from late April through and beyond the four-day operation.
To secure swift access to key decision-makers, Pakistan hired six American lobbying firms, spending approximately ₹45 crore, the documents show. One filing by Sidley Law LLP states that the firm assisted Pakistan in strengthening economic engagement with the United States and provided support during the period of heightened India–Pakistan tensions.
Notably, the filings contain no reference to any mediation by US President Donald Trump during Operation Sindoor.
The records also reveal parallel diplomatic engagement by India. The Indian Embassy in Washington engaged SHW Partners LLC between April and December 2025 to facilitate official communication with the US government, primarily for arranging meetings and coordinating outreach on diplomatic and trade-related matters.
Also read: Pakistan backs China’s mediation claim during Op Sindoor
On May 10, the day the four-day military confrontation concluded, SHW Partners assisted the Indian Embassy in establishing contact with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, US Trade Representative Jamison Greer, and National Security Council official Ricky Gill. Discussions included the status of the India–US trade agreement and media coverage surrounding Operation Sindoor. The firm’s role, according to filings, was limited to facilitating communication through calls, emails and meeting arrangements.
The documents further indicate that the Indian Embassy sought help in arranging a meeting for a multi-party Indian delegation with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside continued discussions on trade negotiations.
Responding to queries on the disclosures, the Ministry of External Affairs said such engagements are legal, transparent and routine under US law. MEA sources noted that FARA records are publicly available and that embassies, private companies and business organisations have long engaged consultants to improve communication and outreach. They added that the Indian Embassy has hired such firms intermittently since 1950 and rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation during Operation Sindoor as “completely incorrect”.
The revelations have, however, drawn political reactions. The Congress questioned the sequence of events on May 10, with party general secretary Jairam Ramesh pointing to the timing of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first public statement announcing the halt of Operation Sindoor at 5.37 pm.
Congress leader Amitabh Dubey also raised concerns over the involvement of the US Trade Representative on the same day, suggesting that the overlap warranted scrutiny. The government has denied any linkage, asserting that India’s military and diplomatic decisions during Operation Sindoor were sovereign, strategic and independent.
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