Exposed: Pakistan’s Panic After Op Sindoor—60+ US Lobbying Attempts Revealed

Exposed: Pakistan’s Panic After Op Sindoor—60+ US Lobbying Attempts Revealed

In the immediate aftermath of India’s precise and potent military retaliation—Operation Sindoor—Pakistan didn’t just brace for impact on the battlefield. It launched a high-stakes, high-anxiety diplomatic blitz in Washington, D.C. According to recently disclosed Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) documents, the Pakistani government, through its hired lobbying powerhouse Squire Patton Boggs, mounted a “frantic” campaign to pressure the United States into intervening and “somehow halt” India’s operations .

The filings, submitted to the US Department of Justice, reveal a staggering 60+ contacts with US lawmakers, State Department officials, Pentagon representatives, and influential media outlets within days of the strikes. This wasn’t routine diplomacy—it was damage control born of genuine alarm. The question now is: what did Pakistan fear so much, and what does this frantic lobbying say about the real impact of Op Sindoor Pakistan reaction?

Table of Contents

• What Was Operation Sindoor?
• The Frantic Lobbying Campaign: Exposed by FARA
• Who Is Squire Patton Boggs and What Did They Do?
• Key Messages: Pakistan’s US Narrative
• Why Did Pakistan Panic?
• US Response and Geopolitical Implications
• Conclusion
• Sources

What Was Operation Sindoor?

While official details remain classified, Indian defense sources confirm that Operation Sindoor was a calibrated military response to a major cross-border terror attack that originated from Pakistani soil. The operation involved precision strikes on terror launch pads and infrastructure deep inside Pakistani territory, echoing the strategic clarity of previous actions like the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrike.

What made Sindoor different, according to analysts, was its speed, scale, and the clear message it sent: India would no longer tolerate strategic ambiguity from its neighbor. The operation reportedly degraded key capabilities of Pakistan-based militant groups, triggering immediate and high-level panic in Islamabad’s security and political circles.

The Frantic Lobbying Campaign: Exposed by FARA

The FARA filings paint a vivid picture of crisis management in overdrive. Squire Patton Boggs, retained by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, submitted detailed activity reports that include:

• 60+ direct contacts with members of Congress, State Department bureaus (especially South and Central Asia), and National Security Council staff.
• Media outreach to major outlets like The Washington Post, New York Times, and CNN, aiming to shape the narrative around “escalation risks.”
• Requests for urgent meetings with senior US officials, pushing for “immediate diplomatic intervention to de-escalate tensions.”
• Delivery of talking points framing India’s actions as “disproportionate” and warning of a potential “regional conflagration.”

One internal memo, cited in the filings, bluntly stated the objective: “Secure US pressure on India to cease all offensive operations immediately.”

Who Is Squire Patton Boggs and What Did They Do?

Squire Patton Boggs is a global law and lobbying firm with deep roots in Washington. It has represented Pakistan for years, though its contract was reportedly expanded and accelerated in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

The firm’s strategy focused on three pillars:

1. Damage Control: Counter Indian narratives in the US media and policy community.
2. Mediation Push: Urge the US to act as a “neutral” mediator to halt hostilities.
3. Sanctions Shield: Pre-empt any potential US moves to hold Pakistan accountable for terror sponsorship.

According to US Department of Justice FARA records, the firm billed Pakistan hundreds of thousands of dollars for this emergency campaign.

Key Messages: Pakistan’s US Narrative

Pakistan’s lobbying team pushed a consistent set of talking points:

• India’s strikes violated Pakistan’s sovereignty and risked nuclear escalation.
• Pakistan was “cooperating fully” in counterterrorism and needed time to act.
• Only the US had the “moral authority” to prevent a wider war.
• Instability in Pakistan would directly threaten US interests in Afghanistan and beyond.

Notably, the narrative avoided any acknowledgment of the terror attack that triggered India’s response—a silence that speaks volumes.

Why Did Pakistan Panic?

The scale of the lobbying suggests Pakistan’s leadership feared more than just military losses. Analysts point to several factors:

• Strategic Exposure: The strikes may have hit sensitive military or intelligence assets, not just terror camps.
• Domestic Instability: A strong Indian response could embolden internal opposition and trigger civil-military tensions.
• International Isolation: With China distracted and the Gulf cooling ties, Pakistan had few allies to turn to—hence the all-in bet on Washington.

US Response and Geopolitical Implications

Despite Pakistan’s frantic efforts, the US response was measured. Public statements called for “restraint from both sides,” but notably refrained from condemning India. Privately, US officials reportedly urged Pakistan to “address the root cause”—a clear reference to its terror infrastructure.

This episode underscores a stark reality: Pakistan’s traditional playbook of seeking US mediation after its proxies attack India is losing traction. The Op Sindoor Pakistan reaction reveals not just panic, but a declining diplomatic currency in Washington—a shift that could redefine South Asian security dynamics for years to come.

Conclusion

The FARA disclosures offer a rare window into Pakistan’s state of mind after Operation Sindoor. Far from the bluster of public statements, Islamabad was in full crisis mode, desperately lobbying the US to stop India’s military momentum. This frantic effort—60+ contacts in days—exposes both the vulnerability of Pakistan’s security posture and the waning effectiveness of its old diplomatic tactics. As India asserts its right to self-defense with increasing clarity, the world is watching how these power dynamics continue to evolve. For more on India’s strategic doctrine, see our analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:indias-evolving-retaliation-policy-against-terror].

Sources

• Times of India: Hit by Op Sindoor, panic-stricken Pak mounted frantic lobbying in US
• US Department of Justice – FARA Database: Squire Patton Boggs FARA Filings
• Foreign Policy: Pakistan’s Lobbying in Washington
• The Diplomat: Operation Sindoor and Regional Security