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July 20, 2011

2 Indicted in Alleged Pakistan Lobbying Scheme 
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The FBI is claiming Pakistan’s ISI spy agency has spent the last two
decades secretly funneling millions of dollars into United States
election campaigns and political offices to influence U.S. foreign
policy. The allegations were part of a 43-page affidavit filed in
connection with the indictment of two U.S. citizens. The suspects are
Zaheer Ahmad — who is in Pakistan — and Syed Fai, who lives in
Virginia. Fai directs the Kashmiri American Council, a group that
promotes self-determination for Kashmir through lobbying and fundraising
events. The FBI says the group was largely financed by the ISI and
donated as much as $100,000 dollars annually to U.S. political
campaigns. U.S. authorities say the bulk of the organization’s costs
were covered by straw contributors who were subsequently reimbursed by
the ISI. The organization’s goal was allegedly to influence the U.S.
government to push India to allow Kashmir to vote for independence.



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