Published on, Aug. 31 -- August 31, 2025 3:06 AM

It is the diplomatic equivalent of torching bundles of cash on K Street. New Delhi is bleeding Indian Rupee 2.4 crore every single month on lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., and still walked headlong into Donald Trump's 50% tariff wall. For all of Modi's chest-thumping "muscular diplomacy," India is learning the hard way that cheque-book statecraft does not buy influence in Trump's America. Islamabad, with a leaner yet immaculately planned strategy, has tilted the scales in its favour. The result was softer tariffs and a coveted White House luncheon for General Asim Munir.

The numbers puncture the myth. India hired Jason Miller's SHW Partners at $150,000 per month, Mercury Public Affair...