India Hired U.S. Lobby Firm During Operation Sindhur, FARA Filing Reveals

Washington/New Delhi: A recent filing with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveals that during the 2025 Operation Sindhur, the Indian Embassy reached out to a U.S. lobby firm for assistance in scheduling meetings with top Trump administration officials. According to the filing, the firm was tasked with organizing meetings between Indian officials and U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The FARA filing, uploaded in December 2025, highlights that on May 10, 2025, the Indian Embassy contacted officials to discuss “media coverage” of the India-Pakistan conflict. While the filing does not specify whether these calls took place before or after the ceasefire announcement, it suggests high-level engagement.

Lobbying Amid Escalating Tensions

The Indian Embassy’s approach to the U.S. lobby firm SHW is significant as it follows reports of similar lobbying by Pakistan, which had contacted U.S. officials 60 times during the conflict. India’s move to hire a lobby firm came amid growing concerns about the escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack, which raised the possibility of a military strike against Pakistan.

According to FARA records, the lobbying firm SHW LLC, which was hired on April 24, 2025, arranged meetings between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, and U.S. officials. The firm also facilitated conversations with officials from both the Republican and Democratic parties, signaling India’s effort to counteract Pakistan’s lobbying efforts.

India’s Response to Trump’s Claims

India has categorically rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating between India and Pakistan to resolve their conflict. Trump has repeatedly asserted his role in attempting to de-escalate tensions, a claim that the Indian government has denied. In the filing, it is mentioned that the Indian Embassy sought to engage with U.S. officials through the lobby firm to discuss the conflict, but India has not acknowledged any involvement of Trump in brokering peace.

The Role of Lobby Firms in U.S.-India Relations

According to reports, the Indian Embassy’s use of lobbyists is part of a broader diplomatic strategy to engage U.S. policymakers. The Hindu reports that these lobbyists are hired not to directly intervene in the meetings but to offer strategic advice and facilitate understanding of the situation. Some Indian officials have suggested that hiring lobbyists has become a necessary tool in the current U.S. administration, especially after Trump set new standards for engagement.

While Pakistan has long used lobby firms to strengthen ties with the U.S., particularly under its previous government, India’s use of lobbying firms is seen as a more recent development in the evolving dynamics of India-U.S. relations.