India Defends U.S. Lobbying as Part of Strategic Diplomacy
India on Thursday restated its assertive stance against cross-border terrorism, stating that any engagement with Pakistan will remain conditional upon concrete action to dismantle terror infrastructure. The statement, delivered during the Ministry of External Affairs' weekly briefing, came alongside a strong defence of the Indian government’s long-standing practice of hiring lobbying firms in the United States as part of its strategic diplomacy toolkit.
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| Image Source: MEA Briefing |
The Ministry clarified that engaging lobbying firms has been a regular and transparent practice since 1949, with full disclosures made under U.S. law. These activities are common among embassies worldwide and conducted in accordance with the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act. The clarification follows increased international scrutiny of India’s diplomatic efforts after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military response under Operation Sindoor.
As part of this broader campaign, India has launched a multi-continent diplomatic outreach involving seven all-party parliamentary delegations. Three groups have already departed to key capitals to present India’s position on terrorism, outline its security concerns, and build international support. These delegations aim to convey India’s zero-tolerance doctrine and highlight the role of state actors in sheltering terror networks.
In parallel, the Ministry dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediation during recent India–Pakistan tensions. India reiterated that any interaction with Pakistan must be strictly bilateral and will not proceed unless Pakistan takes verifiable action against listed terrorists. The only issue India considers open for discussion is the vacation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Dialogue, trade, and water-sharing are deemed incompatible with Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
The Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended as part of this recalibrated diplomatic approach, aimed at pressuring Islamabad to withdraw support for terror groups. India’s current posture reflects a shift from reactive rhetoric to proactive, coordinated international messaging to build global consensus on accountability for state-sponsored terrorism.
On reports of a potential Pakistan–China–Afghanistan trilateral dialogue in Beijing, the Ministry said there was currently no official information available to share.
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