ISI funneled millions to influence US policy on Kashmir

Washington, Jul 20: The ISI funneled millions of dollars for more than two decades to influence US policy on Kashmir, the FBI said after arresting a prominent Kashmiri separatist leader here for illegally lobbying for Pakistan.

An affidavit filed by the FBI in a US Court in Alexandria, wherein separatist Kashmiri leader Ghulam Nabi Fai was produced hours after being arrested by the federal agency on Tuesday on charges of illegally lobbying for the spy agency ISI and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.

The 43-page affidavit was filed in connection with indictment of two US citizens, who did not register with Justice Department, as agents of Pakistan.

Fai is the director of the Kashmiri American Council, a Washington-based group that lobbies for self-determination for Kashmir. Its activities, the affidavit said, is funded by ISI. The money includes USD 100,000 given to political campaigns every year.

Foreign governments are prohibited from making donations to American political candidates.

"The investigation has led me to conclude that Fai has acted at the direction and with financial support of the Government of Pakistan for more than 20 years ... although Fai has some latitude to decide his day-to-day activities, the Government of Pakistan long has directed and funded his lobbying and public relations in the US," said Sarah Webb Linden, Special Agent, FBI.

The affidavit, filed before the US court on July 18 was made public after Fai was arrested.

PTI