GEOPOLITICAL NETWORKS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON INDIA:TAAF,WAC,&USIP.

In my previous article on Islamic propaganda published in Nov-Dec 2024, I referenced Ghazal Habib Khan, the founder of "Friends of Kashmir." In 2020, she was appointed as the U.S. representative of the Hurriyat Conference. There is little doubt that she actively liaises with U.S. Senators and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to further Kashmir-centric, anti-India activities within the United States, activities that are allegedly funded through intermediaries by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

"Friends of Kashmir" is set to host a seminar on September 29, 2024, in Dallas, USA. This event is purportedly in collaboration with the "World Affairs Council." However, a peculiar discrepancy exists in the naming of the partner organization, as "Friends of Kashmir" has listed it as "World Affair Council," omitting the "s" in "Affairs." Whether this is a deliberate act to obscure the connection or an inadvertent oversight remains debatable. Nonetheless, the "World Affairs Council" itself functions as a sophisticated conduit of influence, deeply embedded in networks linked to the U.S. Deep State.

At first glance, the "World Affairs Council" presents itself as an independent and well-structured think tank. However, a closer examination of its financial backing reveals significant associations with:

1. NATO, through its affiliations with the broader World Affairs Council network in the United States.

   
   

2. Perkins Coie, a Washington-based law firm that engaged Fusion GPS, which in turn commissioned the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to produce the controversial Trump dossier concerning alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. This operation was conducted at the behest of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton, with key involvement from John Podesta, a well-known Democratic strategist.

   
   

3. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has been known to finance various international policy initiatives.

   
   

4. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), an institution established by the U.S. Congress and funded by the State Department, with a history of involvement in foreign policy and diplomatic interventions.

   
   

Another significant entity supporting the "World Affairs Council" is The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), founded by Sonal Shah, a prominent Democratic Party insider. TAAF was launched with an initial endowment of $125 million and enjoys direct endorsements from figures such as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton. The leadership and board members of TAAF include individuals with backgrounds in organizations such as the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Open Society Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

For instance, Nikki Singh, the Deputy Director of TAAF, previously served for six years with the Sikh Coalition, an organization actively engaged in promoting narratives critical of India. The Sikh Coalition is primarily funded by the Proteus Fund, which itself is backed by organizations such as the Omidyar Network’s Democracy Fund, the Oak Foundation, Open Society Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Notably, the Sikh Coalition maintains strong ties with the Indian American Muslim Council and Hindus for Human Rights, both of which are prominent voices in the anti-Hindutva discourse in the U.S. and align ideologically with India’s opposition coalition, the I.N.D.I. Alliance.

Additionally, TAAF’s board includes Li Lu, founder of Himalayan Capital, which funds the U.S. chapter of the World Affairs Council. Interestingly, the United States Institute of Peace—a U.S. government-funded think tank—also provides financial backing to the "World Affairs Council," further linking it to networks that align with "Friends of Kashmir."

In essence, these interwoven entities, spanning policy think tanks, nonprofit organizations, legal firms, and intelligence-linked institutions, suggest a concerted effort by influential U.S. actors to shape India’s political landscape under the guise of promoting democracy. This network, through its extensive reach and financial backing, systematically amplifies narratives that are critical of India’s government while positioning itself as a champion of democratic values.

The funding connections further underscore the broader geopolitical strategy at play. For instance, Henry Luce Foundation, another TAAF funding partner, reportedly invested millions in anti-India media campaigns during the 2024 Indian general elections in an attempt to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. Additionally, KKR Holdings, where former U.S. Army Chief and ex-CIA Director General David Petraeus serves as a partner, is another key backer of these initiatives. Petraeus previously worked with NXP, a Netherlands-based company that manufactures microchips used in Indian electronic voting machines, highlighting another potential avenue of strategic influence.

TAAF’s leadership structure comprises a diverse set of individuals with deep-rooted connections across South and East Asia, including:

• Sonal Shah (Indian-American), founder of TAAF and a key Democratic Party operative.

• Nikki Singh (Indian-American), a former member of the Sikh Coalition.

• Farah Pandith (Bangladeshi-American), a seasoned White House insider affiliated with multiple Democratic administrations.

• Moushumi Khan (Bangladeshi-American), the first legal director of BRAC.

• Fatima Wahidi (Pakistani-American), another influential figure within TAAF.

• Li Lu (Chinese-American), financier of the World Affairs Council.

• Fareed Zakaria (Indian-American), a renowned media personality awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Congress-led UPA government in 2010. (After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in a Newsweek cover essay, "Why They Hate Us," Zakaria argued that Islamic extremism was not fundamentally rooted in Islam, nor could it be claimed a reaction to American foreign policy. He located the problem in the political-social-economic stagnation of Arab societies, which then bred an extreme, religious opposition. He portrayed Osama bin Laden as one in a long line of extremists who used religion to justify mass murder. Zakaria argued for an intergenerational effort to create more open and dynamic societies in Arab countries, and thereby helping Islam enter the modern world. In March 2021, Zakaria criticized the size of the U.S. military budget, saying that "The United States’ F-35 fighter jet program, bedeviled by cost overruns and technical problems, will ultimately cost taxpayers $1.7 trillion. China will spend a comparable amount of money on its Belt and Road Initiative...Which is money better spent?")references ;-THE WASHINGTON POST

  
  

Given these deep interconnections, it is imperative to critically analyze how these networks operate and the extent to which they influence political narratives regarding India. The financial and strategic backing of organizations such as the World Affairs Council and TAAF by entities linked to the U.S. establishment underscores a broader, coordinated effort to steer India’s democratic and geopolitical trajectory in a direction favorable to Western interests.

In subsequent analyses, I will further explore how specific organizations, such as the Sikh Coalition, contribute to the overarching anti-India propaganda machinery and the ramifications of their activities on India’s global standing.