India cuts down US lobbying expenses; Pakistan ups

Having spent thousands of dollars for many quarters lobbying on bilateral ties and for the nuclear deal with the US, India cut down on these expenses in the last quarter, even as neighbour Pakistan paid a higher quarterly bill for canvassing support for it in America.

Having spent thousands of dollars for many quarters lobbying on bilateral ties and for the nuclear deal with the US, India cut down on these expenses in the last quarter, even as neighbour Pakistan paid a higher quarterly bill for canvassing support for it in America.

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The Indian government paid a total of $140,000 to high-profile lobbyist firm BGR during the July-September quarter this year to push forward its case in the US Congress and various government departments on the two countries' bilateral relationship and issues related to civil nuclear agreement.

This is down from $180,000 paid in each of the past two quarters for lobbying on the same issues, according to lobbying disclosure reports filed with the US Senate.

In comparison, Pakistan's lobbying expenses here rose to $410,000 in the third quarter, from $230, 000 in the second. In the first quarter it stood at $270,000.

While India has engaged just one lobbyist agency BGR, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has engaged two --Cassidy & Associates and Locke Lord Strategies.

The agencies entrusted by Pakistan are lobbying on issues ranging from anti-terrorism and counter-insurgency to the US-Pakistan bilateral relations and also Acts like Afghanistan-Pakistan Security and Prosperity Enhancement Act, Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act and Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act.