India is better positioned than Pakistan to capitalise on the political changes in Washington because its partnership with the United States rests on deeper, institutionally grounded ties — unlike Islamabad's approach, which reportedly relied on transactional dealings and an aggressive lobbying campaign targeting the Donald Trump administration, according to a report published by the Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper Asia Times.

Pakistan's Lobbying Blitz in Washington

According to the Asia Times report, Pakistan's military-led hybrid government went to considerable lengths to cultivate favour with the Trump administration. These efforts included pursuing cryptocurrency deals with members of the President's family and promoting the country's rare-earth mineral potential at the White House.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was notably effusive in his public praise. '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.

The lobbying effort extended well beyond rhetoric. According to the report, Islamabad committed nearly US$5 million to contracts with six major Washington lobbying firms. These included a $200,000-per-month engagement with Seiden Law, which subcontracted Javelin Advisors — a firm co-founded by former Trump Organization executive George Sorial and Trump's ex-bodyguard and Oval Office operations director Keith Schiller.

A separate arrangement with Orchid Advisors, which subcontracted Squire Patton Boggs, also targeted the administration's inner circle. Though those initial contracts concluded, the Sharif government reportedly doubled down on 1 May 2026, locking the Pakistani Embassy into a new multi-year $1.2 million deal with Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC — led by former Republican Congressman Tom Graves — to promote Islamabad's strategic narratives at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.

IMF Dependence Raises Questions About Priorities

The report raised pointed questions about Pakistan's allocation of national resources, noting that the country's continued dependence on International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts and external loans — alongside recurring economic crises — sits in uncomfortable contrast with its willingness to spend heavily on Washington lobbying. Critics argue this pattern reflects a government prioritising foreign favour over domestic fiscal stability.

India's Strategic Ties Built on Bipartisan Foundations

By contrast, the report highlighted that India's strategic partnership with the US has shown considerable resilience, underpinned by strong institutional frameworks and bipartisan support in Washington. The bilateral relationship has largely maintained a positive trajectory despite occasional political differences and high-level tensions between the two governments.

'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 Asia Times report noted.

This institutional momentum, the report argued, allows the India-US partnership to withstand shifts in political leadership in both countries — a durability that Pakistan's transactional approach cannot replicate.

What This Means Going Forward

As the Trump administration's second term shapes US foreign policy priorities in South Asia and beyond, the contrasting trajectories of the two relationships are likely to become more pronounced. India, with its established defence, technology, and trade linkages with Washington, is widely seen as better placed to deepen engagement — while Pakistan's reliance on paid advocacy and personal diplomacy may prove an increasingly costly and uncertain strategy.