What is the story about?
Fresh disclosures under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) have outlined the scope of work carried out by SHW Partners LLC, a Washington-based lobbying firm hired by the Indian Embassy in the US. The firm is led by Jason Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, was listed as the point of contact.
According to the filings, SHW Partners assisted the Indian diplomatic mission in organising and facilitating engagements linked to India–US trade deal negotiations, with discussions extending through 2025. The firm coordinated meetings, calls and email exchanges with officials from the US State Department and the National Security Council, and helped arrange senior-level interactions to advance bilateral economic talks.
The filings also show that SHW Partners helped set up meetings for the Indian ambassador and the Indian defence attaché during Operation Sindoor, underscoring its role in defence and strategic outreach alongside economic diplomacy. The firm said it provided government relations and strategic advice on policy matters involving the US administration, Congress, state governments, think tanks and other stakeholders.
SHW Partners was hired by the Indian Embassy for a one-year period beginning April 24, 2025. The engagement coincided with heightened diplomatic activity following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and continued through Operation Sindoor in May. Under the contract, India agreed to pay the firm a monthly fee of $150,000, with $450,000 paid in advance every three months. The filings cover activities carried out between April and December 2025.
Under US law, FARA mandates that individuals and firms representing foreign governments publicly disclose details of their activities, contacts and payments. These filings, submitted to the US Department of Justice, offer rare insight into how governments engage lobbying firms to navigate trade, defence and diplomatic priorities in Washington.
Role in trade negotiations
According to the filings, SHW Partners assisted the Indian diplomatic mission in organising and facilitating engagements linked to India–US trade deal negotiations, with discussions extending through 2025. The firm coordinated meetings, calls and email exchanges with officials from the US State Department and the National Security Council, and helped arrange senior-level interactions to advance bilateral economic talks.
Defence and strategic outreach
The filings also show that SHW Partners helped set up meetings for the Indian ambassador and the Indian defence attaché during Operation Sindoor, underscoring its role in defence and strategic outreach alongside economic diplomacy. The firm said it provided government relations and strategic advice on policy matters involving the US administration, Congress, state governments, think tanks and other stakeholders.
Contract details and timeline
SHW Partners was hired by the Indian Embassy for a one-year period beginning April 24, 2025. The engagement coincided with heightened diplomatic activity following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and continued through Operation Sindoor in May. Under the contract, India agreed to pay the firm a monthly fee of $150,000, with $450,000 paid in advance every three months. The filings cover activities carried out between April and December 2025.
What FARA disclosures mean
Under US law, FARA mandates that individuals and firms representing foreign governments publicly disclose details of their activities, contacts and payments. These filings, submitted to the US Department of Justice, offer rare insight into how governments engage lobbying firms to navigate trade, defence and diplomatic priorities in Washington.
