DC Lobbyist Discovered to Be Pakistani Spy
Lobbyist Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai was arrested Tuesday after the FBI discovered the Washington advocacy group head was on the Pakistani spy agency's payroll for years.
Fai ran the Kashmiri American Council, a supposed non-profit now believed to be a front organization completely run by the Pakistan government.
As its executive director, Fai was paid millions of dollars by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence to fund the organization's activities.
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"Fai has received approximately $500,000 to $700,000 per year from the government of Pakistan," the FBI stated in a court affidavit.
The organization reportedly has existed for 20 years, so it is possible that Fai received between $10 and $14 million total.
Under order, Fai developed sources at the White House and the State Department.
Kashmir is a disputed territory that has been divided among three countries – Pakistan, India and China.
The KAC held a number of high profile conferences and media events to advocate the Pakistani point of view that a referendum should be held in Kashmir to allow people to decide how the longstanding border dispute should be resolved.
The Daily Pioneer reported that as much as $4 million was use to manipulate American policy against India.
Additionally, Fai made donations to the campaigns of key politicians.
The donations were made in the names of straw donors, recruited to pose as the contributors.
U.S.-Pakistan relations are already strained by tensions arising from the discovery of 9/11 terrorist Osama bin Laden within the country's borders. The U.S. recently announced it will withhold military aid to the tune of $800 million from Pakistan. The KAC's activity places further stain on the countries' ties as it is illegal for foreign governments to donate funds to U.S. political campaigns.
Both Republican and Democratic campaigns received KAC donations. Indiana Sen. Dan Burton (R) received the largest sum, at least $12,000, according to The Hindu news publication. The publication also found that donations were made to President Barack Obama's campaign.
It is unclear whether the donations went to his congressional or presidential campaign.
The man in charge of recruiting straw donors, Zaheer Ahmad, was also charged as a spy. However, the FBI could not arrest Ahmad because he is currently in Pakistan. Neither man is being charged with espionage.
Both Fai and Ahmad are U.S. citizens.
