Pakistan has engaged a Washington-based lobbying firm to advance its security partnership with the United States and attract investment in its minerals sector, according to a newly filed contract. The two-year agreement, valued at $1.2 million and effective from May, marks an intensification of Islamabad’s efforts to convert recent diplomatic goodwill with the Trump administration into deeper bilateral cooperation.
The contract appoints the Ervin Graves Strategy Group, headquartered on Capitol Hill, to liaise with members of the US Congress and government agencies, including the Pentagon and National Security Council. This arrangement builds upon a shorter previous engagement initiated by Pakistan’s embassy in Washington last October, with monthly fees doubling to $50,000 under the new deal.
Officials familiar with the situation said the timing of the contract is significant, coinciding with Pakistan’s elevated role in mediating between the US and Iran during their recent nuclear talks. A source familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated the aim is to institutionalize ties beyond personal rapport and create a lasting framework for collaboration that can survive political changes.
The lobbying effort focuses on revitalizing defense cooperation mechanisms that were active during the Afghanistan conflict and promoting US investment in Pakistan’s mineral resources—an area currently dominated by Chinese interests. Former US diplomat Elizabeth Threlkeld, now head of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, observed that the contract aligns with Trump administration priorities, such as securing critical minerals and counterterrorism cooperation.
In particular, the lobbying mandate includes highlighting threats emanating from Afghanistan, where Pakistan cites ongoing militant attacks, and encourages the US to support Islamabad’s counterterrorism operations. The Taliban government in Kabul denies any involvement in militant activities targeting Pakistan.
Pakistan’s military leadership, especially Army Chief Asim Munir, has garnered increased influence with Washington in recent months. President Donald Trump has publicly referred to Munir as his “favorite field marshal,” following the Pakistani general’s role in defusing tensions in a conflict with India that Trump helped mediate last year.
Despite these positive signals, some analysts caution that the bilateral relationship remains fragile. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Washington, noted that the “dramatic improvement in relations” is uncertain given the historical fluctuations in ties and questioned whether the progress would endure beyond the Trump presidency.
Since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021, which ended a two-decade-long conflict instrumental in shaping the US-Pakistan relationship, ties between the two countries have cooled. The new lobbying contract aims to revive “appropriate high-level bilateral defence and security dialogue mechanisms” to rebuild aspects of the partnership that have diminished over recent years.
The US State Department declined detailed comment but confirmed that Washington and Islamabad continue to seek cooperation on trade and security priorities. Governments frequently use lobbying firms to engage with US policymakers, and Pakistan’s latest move provides a direct window into its strategic priorities amid shifting regional dynamics.