Pakistan's foreign policy has undergone a quiet but consequential transformation. What was once the exclusive domain of career diplomats and formal embassies is now, according to researchers and published reports, increasingly conducted through a parallel network of businessmen, lobbyists, cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and political intermediaries — operating in the shadows of official channels.

The Pattern Researchers Are Tracking

Disinfo Lab, a research group that investigates information warfare and psychological operations, flagged in a series of posts on social media platform X that since 2024, multiple cases have emerged that together form a discernible pattern across the United States, the Gulf and China. According to the group, Pakistan's approach operates on a consistent logic: identify someone with the right contacts, provide sufficient cover, and deploy them to open doors that official diplomats cannot.

The Zahoor Case: A Convicted Fraudster at a White House-Level Visit

One of the most striking examples, according to the Disinfo Lab findings, surfaced in April 2026, when US Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing US-Iran tensions. Among the senior Pakistani officials welcoming them was Umar Farooq Zahoor, a Dubai-based businessman of Pakistani origin born in Sialkot.

Zahoor carries considerable legal baggage. Norwegian authorities have pursued him for years. He was convicted in Oslo in 2003 in connection with a travel-agency fraud case. In 2010, Oslo police linked him to the Nordea Bank fraud case involving millions of dollars, after which Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against him. That notice was dropped in 2022 after Pakistan reportedly requested its removal, though Norwegian authorities are said to continue pursuing aspects of the case.

Despite this record, Zahoor was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz — Pakistan's second-highest civilian honour — in 2025, reportedly for contributions to foreign investment. Officials cited by researchers say this is emblematic of a broader Pakistani pattern: individuals carrying significant legal exposure abroad remain operationally useful to Islamabad.

The US-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) also raised questions about Zahoor's appearance alongside Vance during the 11 April visit. MEMRI cited Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang, which quoted Norwegian State Attorney Carl Graff Hartmann as saying Zahoor was still wanted in connection with the 2010 Nordea Bank fraud involving more than 60 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $6.5 million).

Crypto Diplomacy and the Trump-Linked Venture

Disinfo Lab says the same logic is visible in Pakistan's growing embrace of cryptocurrency as a diplomatic instrument. In April 2025, Islamabad initiated major engagement with World Liberty Financial (WLF), a venture linked to the Trump family. Central to this was Bilal Bin Saqib, who joined WLF as an adviser in April 2025; just eleven days later, Pakistan and WLF signed a cooperation agreement.

Notably, this engagement coincided with the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's Operation Sindoor, in which multiple terror training facilities in Pakistan were reportedly destroyed. Researchers point to the timing as significant — Pakistan was simultaneously cultivating political, financial and strategic ties with influential American figures even as the military confrontation with India unfolded.

Bilal subsequently became Chief Executive of Pakistan's Crypto Council. The council also appointed Binance founder Changpeng Zhao as a strategic adviser. Zhao had previously pleaded guilty to US anti-money-laundering violations, and Binance agreed to pay billions of dollars in penalties. Separately, questions have reportedly emerged regarding Bilal's corporate network in the United Kingdom, where several companies linked to him allegedly share the same address, maintain limited public operations and offer little financial transparency. One firm, Tayaba UK, has reported links to Al Mustafa Trust, whose leadership reportedly includes several retired Pakistan Army officers.

Lobbying the White House: The Seiden Law Contract

In April 2025, Pakistan hired Seiden Law on a contract worth $200,000 per month to facilitate access within the US political system. The firm partnered with Javelin Advisors, founded by Keith Schiller — Donald Trump's longtime bodyguard and former Oval Office aide — alongside George Sorial, a veteran Trump Organisation executive.

Documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) revealed that one stated objective was presenting Pakistan's position on Kashmir and India-Pakistan relations before the White House, Congress and other American policy circles. The arrangement reportedly yielded results: Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir secured a visit to the White House, which was followed by tariff reductions and American investment commitments in Pakistan.

China and Narrative Management: The Broader Architecture

The parallel diplomacy model extends beyond the United States, according to Disinfo Lab. In China, a figure named Zaeem Shiko, associated with Pakistan's drone industry, was reportedly detained by Chinese customs authorities in Shenzhen over allegations of drone-component smuggling — another private-sector intermediary operating in a strategically sensitive space between state policy and commercial activity.

Pakistan has also reportedly invested heavily in narrative management. Foreign bloggers, influencers and content curators are said to be regularly invited on curated tours and paid to produce positive content, which is then amplified through state-linked channels. Indian agencies have reportedly busted at least one such influencer network.

An official quoted in reports summed it up: Pakistan's diplomacy is no longer confined to embassies and foreign offices. A parallel system has emerged, comprising fixers, intermediaries and influence brokers — and it is increasingly the primary vehicle through which Islamabad engages the world.