In December last year, Dr Fai had pleaded guilty to two charges: 1.) “To falsify, conceal and cover up material facts he had a duty to disclose in matters within the jurisdiction of executive branch agencies of the US government”; 2.) “To defraud the Treasury Department by impeding the lawful functions of the IRS in the collection of revenue.”
Arrested in July 2011, Dr Fai was accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. He has been accused of, and later pleaded guilty to, taking money from the Inter-Services Intelligence to run his US-based NGO.
In a press release issued by the Department of Justice, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Neil MacBride, said “Mr Fai lied to the Justice Department, the IRS, and many political leaders throughout the United States as he pushed the ISI’s propaganda on Kashmir.”
Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, said, “Fai is today being held accountable for his role in a decades-long scheme to conceal the fact that the government of Pakistan was secretly funding his efforts to influence US policy on Kashmir.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Haji Rafiq A. Tschannen:
You would have to identify them and their source of funding. Most international NGO work with the people of the nations they are in and do not try to influence the government. Since you only memtioned the CIA then I have to assume you are only making reference to US NGO's.
If all those employees of international NGOs that receive CIA funding would also be sentenced in the various countries of action THAT would make an interesting article.
@j. von hettlingen. So you think this is all a conspiracy and that Dr. Fai pleaded guilty and is willing to spend 2 years in jail because he's a Republican and wants to make Obama and Pakistan look bad?
@Rajendra Kalkhande:
You are absolutely right. There is another way of looking at the issue. Let us see how the following is received by Pakistani commentators.
I am personally a victim of the madness of 1947 when the largest human migration in history took place; Hindus and Sikhs moving from West Pakistan to India and Muslims from North India moving in the opposite direction. (Something on similar lines happened in Bengal and East Pakistan as well). I still shudder to think of the human beastliness I was a witness to at the tender age of eleven. It is very important that all efforts are made to avoid any similar situation again.
If Kashmir were to become a part of Pakistan, the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, living there for centuries, will certainly lose their homes, just as the Kashmiri Pundits already have thanks to Pakistani infiltrators. It is a certain recipe for chaos because the people of Jammu and Laddakh will resist it. The Muslims of Kashmir, who are very different from all kinds of Muslims in Pakistan, will never be assimilated in that country, just as Bengali Muslims of East Pakistan could not be, and the Muslims of Baluchistan are finding out now. It is, therefore, in everybody’s interest that Kashmir does not join Pakistan.
Azaadi, the present popular chant, is also a no-go because Pakistan will gobble up the Valley of Jhelum (Kashmir) in no time. Kashmiris will never be able to defend themselves against the hordes that tried the same in 1947 and 1965. This cannot be allowed to happen for obvious reasons.
In my humble view, because the people of J&K have been a secular society all along with Kashmiriat an important component of their life, it is most reasonable to let them stay as they are. The current mood is not because Indian army is unreasonable, but because Jihadis infiltrating from Pakistan are difficult to identify.
@Allah Ditta:
I must correct you Sir.
You said, "Just think, India lets Yasin Malik, Syed Gilani, Mirvaiz to visit foreign countries including USA and Pakistan and preach whatever they want to preach on Indian passports. If any Sikh or Muslim from India works against India on Indian passport, that person will be branded a terrorist and probably ,,,,,,,,,,"
You are absolutely right in pointing out the freedom enjoyed by Kashmiri dissidents. The reason why it is so must be appreciated. The reason is that India has nothing to hide about Kashmir. The less said about Pakistan on this subject the better.
The other part of your assertion is not correct. Every "Sikh or Muslim" will also enjoy the same freedom. That is because there is no discrimination in India on grounds of faith. India is a Secular state. (BTW, all Kashmiri dissidents are Muslim).
Pakistan has tried every possible trick when it comes to Kashmir. She failed measurably in all. As I have written time and again, there is no way 1.2 billion Indians will let go away Kashmir, come what may. Even a nuclear war is acceptable. Kashmiri crooks like Fai have been milking poor Pakistan in the name of Kashmir struggle.
Fai pleaded guilty and knew USA’s lobbying law very well. Fai is a convicted felon now in USA.. It is a big deal in USA. The problem with Pakistan connected celebrities / activists is that they break laws in foreign countries.. look at Rahat Fetay Ali Khan, Cricket Players and probably many more. Pakistanis do not follow financial laws and when they get cought, they say it because of their being Pakistanis. Grow up Pakistan.. Fai can continue his Kashmir work but must follow the law of land. Even Judge sending him to jail told him that he can continue his Kashmir work from jail. Don’t cry for him Pakistanis. Fai took millions of $$$$. There are many others who work on Kashmir issue all over the world but have no access to funding. And, as far as India is concerned, India is not bothered by Fais. Just think, India lets Yasin Malik, Syed Gilani, Mirvaiz to visit foreign countries including USA and Pakistan and preach whatever they want to preach on Indian passports. If any Sikh or Muslim from India works against India on Indian passport, that person will be branded a terrorist and probably will spend of rest of his life in jail or on ECL list.
@Imran Bhatt
Good bye, Dr Fai. I like it.So sweet.
On a serious note this guy Fai is a crook who let down everyone, Pakistan, who paid him,Americans, who gave him citizenship and the Kashmiris, whose cause he was using to make money for himself.
Fai was well-connected and a die-hard Republican, who hoped for Obama's demise in the coming elections. In his Washington office there were photos of him posing with America's distinguished personalities, like Bill Clinton and GW Bush. Fai's guilty plea came at a time when relations between Washington and Islamabad have worsened.
Good bye, Dr Fai
In order to keep the record straight, here’s the correct information: Dr. Fai is sentenced to 24 months in prison time each in two counts for Conspiracy to defraud IRS and lying to Federal Agents. Dr. Fai pleaded guilty to these two charges only and all other charges against Dr. Fai were dropped by the prosecution. Both these jail terms will start simultaneously. He will also have three years supervised release (probation) after serving time. It is indeed a very sad day in the history of Kashmir movement and Dr. Fai is a Kashmiri hero. May Allah bless him and his family.
How come they have offered citizenship to Doc Shakeel ?
Remember when this event was first published? ISI vehemently denied involvement and Pakistani posters denounced this as an American plot against Pakistan. Then the Dr. Fai confessed and exposed the truth - the ISI didn't apologize nor comment and no doubt most Pakistanis still think it's a conspiracy. Go figure.
@truebluepakistani: You do not even know the meaning of a "True Blue" person. To be "True Blue" you need to have Blue Eyes. As a true Paki you cannot have blue eyes. First educate yourself before making comments under assumed names.
So lets get this straight...the US can fly drones and kill our citizens, they can send hundreds of CIA operatives to set up dozens of safe houses in every city, they can kidnap people at will, shoot and kill people on the main in our major city markets, they can invade our country with helicopters and kill our troops, use our land to transport all the deadly hardware that no other country allows them to....and all of this is ok....but one guy gets paid to just lobby on our behalf and he gets locked up and vilified. Jonathan Pollard can steal nuclear secrets, AIPAC can buy and sell the entire democratic process....the Indian lobby can pay a California Congressman to create troubles for the US itself in a "theater of war"...all of that is ok....why?
What a horrendous double standard and we shouldn't stand for it for one minute. Screw the US...with friends like them we'll never be short of enemies.
Had Read this when I was young. One can fool some people all the time, all the people some time, but not all the people all the time. I guess he deserved it. And I am really amused by the way in which ISI dumped him after his arrest. Rgds
Another botched operation under Pasha. Lobby the USA is the favorite past time of every foreign govt - no reason to do it illegally - dumb move.
I have seen a report in Times of India that his (Fai's) doctorate degree is also a fake. This fellow is a sweet-talking cheat who was helping ISI in its nefarious designs, and getting paid for it handsomely.
I am amused to see that most of commentators from Pakistan are in his favor and justify his actions. I would be cursing ISI if I had been in Pakistan.
The whole point of this news item is:
1) Kashmir is an issue that needs a crook like Fai to lobby for. Not everyone can lie with a straight face.
2) ISI could not find an honest man to do its bidding on Kashmir. It is difficult to find honest fools.
Just think. What does all this tell you about the Kashmir issue?
this will seriously damage pakistan's stand on kashmir globally, more so in garnering support for freedom of indian kashmir in other countries, especially european countries..
@truebluepakistani:
Fai is nobody's man ---- originally an Indian national and driven by greed. You can bet, he will be happy to spend those two years where he is and wouldn't risk leaving the wonderful newhome that he has opted for the United Sates of America.
@truebluepakistani: "Fai is our man, get him back to Pakistan and give him citizenship so he can continue work from AJK." Let us see if he is so dedicated to his cause as to leave a cozy, ordered lifestyle in the US, paid for by your tax (or begged) dollars and come and live amongst you. At any rate, you will have to wait five years when he would have completed his sentence in the US. What can he accomplish in Ghulam Kashmir which he could not in the freest nation in the world?
@S Khan:
Generous US supply of military equipment may be a reason. Beggars can't be choosers usually.
Fai is our man, get him back to Pakistan and give him citizenship so he can continue work from AJK.
Whats common between Mehran gate and Dr Fai is ISI? Use of tax payers money for political gains.
He will be out in 8 months after good behavior. The deal was made by the US Govt who only temporarily wanted to embarrass the ISI. Now everything is patched up. ISI funded him, but nothing is said was untrue.
@S Khan:
Actually that was not the charge. The charge was failing to tell the US government. Had he done so and paid taxes he would be a free man today.........Do some research before you make a fool of yourself or try to equate PAK support of terrorism to the actions of the US.
Dr Afradi have same charge sheet against him " working for C I A while being service of Govt of K P so why the differen yardstick apply.
@khan:
He was a paid PAK government asset.........This is what PAK did to itself.
good riddence, its high time these traitors be jailed who is spoiling the name of pakistan internationally.. shame on fa, his family and his organization..
he should have been in jail for whole of life....ISI will learn lesson ...working against Indian Kashmir