Hong Kong, November 15 (Yes Punjab News)
India is better positioned than Pakistan to benefit from political changes in Washington because its partnership with the US is based on deeper and more enduring ties, while Islamabad’s relationship with the Donald Trump administration has relied heavily on transactional arrangements, a report has said.
A report published by Hong Kong-based English newspaper Asia Times said Pakistan’s military-led hybrid government had made extensive efforts to win Trump’s favour, including pursuing cryptocurrency deals involving members of the President’s family and highlighting the country’s rare-earth mineral potential at the White House.
“Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left no stone unturned in praising Trump. From the Global Peace Summit on Iran to discussions on Gaza and other pressing international conflicts and issues, Sharif repeatedly lauded Trump, seemingly hoping to secure his goodwill,” the report stated.
According to the report, Islamabad also committed substantial funds to US lobbying firms to strengthen its political influence in Washington. It said these efforts were part of a broader strategy involving personal connections and transactional dealings to advance Pakistan’s interests.
The report detailed nearly $5 million in lobbying contracts with six major Washington firms. These included a $200,000-per-month engagement with Seiden Law, which subcontracted Javelin Advisors, co-founded by former Trump Organization executive George Sorial and former Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller.
It also cited an agreement involving Orchid Advisors and Squire Patton Boggs. The report said that after the initial contracts ended, the Pakistani government entered a new multi-year deal worth $1.2 million with Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC on May 1, 2026, to promote Islamabad’s strategic narratives at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
The report questioned Pakistan’s spending priorities, pointing to its continued dependence on International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts and external loans, alongside recurring economic crises.
In contrast, it described India’s strategic partnership with the US as resilient, supported by strong institutional foundations and bipartisan backing in Washington.
Despite political differences and occasional tensions at the highest levels, India-US relations have largely maintained a positive trajectory. The report said the partnership had developed institutional momentum that could help it withstand changes in political leadership in both countries.
“American lawmakers have repeatedly assured their Indian counterparts that Washington’s engagement with Pakistan has been transactional, driven by specific American interests in West Asia and the wider region’s security context, while its partnership with India is a long-term strategic commitment,” the report noted.
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