A 71-YEAR-OLD self-styled lobbyist of Pakistani origin was recently nabbed in Maryland for acting as a foreign agent without registering himself with the US Justice Department and may face a sentence of up to five years.

Pakistan has not been having a registered lobbyist in Washington for the last five years. The government must not adopt a penny-wise, pound-foolish posture and must have a formalized structure related to lobbying.

It’s time now for Islamabad to decide to help our embassy by selecting a Washington firm, whose footprints are in the corridors of power, to work closely with Pakistani diplomats. Depending upon what the issue is, the real influence-making decisions are made by middle level officials in the departments of defence, state and commerce, or by advisers to the National Security Council, an NGO, a think-tank or a staffer on the Capitol Hill,

Embassies hiring lobbying firms in Washington is the norm. India has hired two lobbying firms and two Public Relations firms. Moreover, the various organizations of the Indian diaspora are very active and effective. Even nations with the closest political and economic relationships with USA – Korea, Japan and many others – hire multiple Washington firms. Our embassy is in a small minority that does not currently engage outside advice and assistance.

The basic outlines of the Trump administration’s policy on Pakistan and South Asia have become clearer. This new approach is not particularly advantageous to Pakistan, since it seeks to alter long-standing regional relationships, elevating some and downplaying others. The problem is that the messages from both capitals are stuck in the past.

From Washington, Islamabad hears, “Do more!” From Islamabad, Washington hears, “We have done more, and suffered more, than any other nation to fight terrorism!” This has been going for the at least 15 years!

Islamabad must act now to help the ambassador and his teams become even more effective in representing Pakistan in Washington. Pakistan needs a new, more positive, and hard-hitting narrative to protect and advance its legitimate interests.

Majyd Aziz
Washington

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018