Pak-hired firms lobbied hard in US to aid its outreach during Op Sindoor

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's lobbying firms in Washington DC mounted a major effort to aid Islamabad’s outreach to top US politicians during and after Operation Sindoor, according to disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

- Shashank Mattoo

Established firms like Squire Patton Boggs (SPG) and newer entrants like Javelin Advisors aided Pakistan in reaching out to the leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties in the House of Representatives and the US Senate as well as aslew of lawmakers dealing with foreign policy matters in both houses.

Javelin Advisors - which was founded by Donald Trump's former bodyguard Keith Schiller and former Trump Organisation executive George Sorial - was hired by Pakistan in April for a monthly fee of $50,000. According to the firm’s filings with the DOJ, Javelin Advisors reached out to the offices of influential US politicians like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during Operation Sindoor to lobby for Islamabad.