Arrest of Ghulam Fai once again unmasks Pakistan

 - Anil Narendra

Everyone knew about the highly influential Pakistan lobby in US and thanks to this lobby that even after knowing everything, the US administration continued economic and military aid to Pakistan, but it was not aware of the powers working behind this lobby. A few days ago, the US administration arrested another of its citizen, who under the garb of an NGO, was working for the Pak intelligence agency-ISI and was spending money on anti-India propaganda with open hands. As a Director of the NGO, `Kshmiri American Council’ Fai was receiving regularly millions of rupees through hawala transactions and was using this money to inciting American Congressmen against India on Kashmir issue. Ghulam Fai, is the second American of Pak origin, who has recently been arrested by the US authorities. Earlier, terrorist David Hadley was arrested. There has been an astounding revelation that Fai used to organize seminars on Kashmir in America at the behest of ISI and a number of renowned Indians have been participating in these seminars. According to sources, renowned journalist, Dilip Padgaonkar, appointed as interlocutor on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir by the government of India had also attended these seminars. Seminars organized with ISI’s directions and funds have seen a number of Indians including renowned journalist Kuldip Nayyar, separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, journalist Gautam Navalakha, Harinder Baweja, Manoj Joshi, Hameeda Naeem, Ved Bhasin, JD Mohammed as participants. These were not only platforms for discussions on Kashmir issue, but pro-Pakistan resolutions were also adopted in there. In fact, for last 25 years, Fai was engaged in reorienting world views on Kashmir. He was trying to internationalize the Kashmir issue, accusing India of heaping injustices on Kashmiris and to establish conspirational links far and wide. According to FBI, Fai is the Executive Director of US-based Kashmir American Council. He is managing its affairs as per dictats of ISI. Fai has been charged of spying for ISI, influencing the viewpoints of Kashmir specialists, politicians, journalists and eminent opinion leaders with a view to garner their support to Pakistan’s view point through the organization of seminars. According to FBI, a number of US Senators have also been contributing to his such efforts. After the arrest of Fai by the FBI, the heat was also felt in India, when it was revealed that a number of eminent Indian personalities have been attending these seminars in US on his invitations. Intelligence sources claim that people used to feel elevated on receiving invitations to attend his seminars. Invitees were paid hefty sums for attending these seminars, in addition to the compensation for US return fare and boarding-lodging in US. A resolution also used to be passed at the conclusion of the seminar, which used to strengthen Pakistan’s viewpoint. Dilip Padgaonkar has admitted his going to US to attend his seminar. He said that he had visited US on Fai’s invitation long back, but he was unaware of his ISI connections. What a coincidence that Fai was arrested at the time, when the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was on a visit to India. In fact, US had known the truth about Fai for last at least six years. Fai was once detained with a huge amount of cash and was extensively interrogated also. India has been demanding action against Fai and his NGO for quite some time. There was no apparent source of income, still Fai was leading an ostentatious life. It may not be surprising that Fai had given maximum contribution to the Republican Senator Dan Burton, notorious for his extreme anti-India stand. The election funds of the present US President, Barak Obama have also been the beneficiary of his donations. Pakistan had been trying to influence US for putting pressure on India for Kashmir referendum. Fai had also penetrated the UN. He was the most vocal advocate of separatist Kashmiri leaders and his arrest must have come as a blow to them. Fai’s would be the second high-profile trial after the Hadley-Rana trial in Chicago. Now the question is that will US succeed pressurizing ISI to check such activities and find more about all ISI contacts? May be Ghulam Fai has direct links with various terror groups. Let us wait and watch about the outcome of the trial.