India Contacted Senior Trump Officials on Operation Sindoor Ceasefire Day, FARA Filings Show

New disclosures under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal that the Indian Embassy in Washington reached out to three senior officials in the Trump administration on May 10, the same day a ceasefire was announced during “Operation Sindoor.” The contacts focused on “media coverage” of the conflict, according to filings submitted by a U.S. lobbying firm to the Department of Justice.

The filing shows outreach to Susie Wiles, Jamieson Greer, and Ricky Gill. While the document does not specify whether the calls occurred before or after the ceasefire took effect, the timing underscores intense, same-day engagement with the White House, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, and the National Security Council.

What the filings detail

The disclosures—part of around 60 entries uploaded in December 2025 to the Department of Justice’s FARA database—were made by a U.S. lobby firm retained by the Indian Embassy. The entries log calls and outreach to senior U.S. officials on May 10 and describe the purpose as discussing media coverage related to Operation Sindoor.

Although FARA filings typically record contacts and stated purposes rather than outcomes, the concentration of outreach on a single, high-stakes day suggests a coordinated effort to manage narratives and brief U.S. decision-makers during a fast-moving crisis.

Trade and security lanes converge

The inclusion of the U.S. Trade Representative alongside White House and NSC officials highlights how trade and security tracks intersected during the episode. India has been navigating sensitive trade discussions with Washington while also managing regional security dynamics, and the filings point to an attempt to keep economic channels open even as crisis diplomacy intensified.

What remains unclear

The filings do not indicate:

• Whether the calls were pre- or post-ceasefire;
• Whether meetings were granted or what guidance, if any, followed;
• The substance of the media-coverage discussions beyond the stated purpose.

FARA disclosures are not required to include call transcripts or outcomes, leaving key details opaque.

Why it matters

The episode illustrates how New Delhi leverages Washington’s lobbying ecosystem—including firms with access to senior U.S. officials—to synchronize public messaging, trade engagement, and security coordination during moments of escalation. It also underscores the scrutiny that accompanies such efforts, as FARA filings make the timing and targets of outreach public.