U.S. jails Kashmir separatist leader Fai for concealing funds got from ISI

Washington, Mar.31 (ANI): A court in Alexandria, Virginia, has sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Ghulam Nabi Fai to two years imprisonment for "conspiracy to defraud the U.S." by concealing the transfer of at least 3.5 million dollars from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency to fund his illegal lobbying efforts on Kashmir.

Following his release in 2014, Fai, 62, will also spend the following three years (till 2017) under supervised release.

Judge Liam O'Grady also asked Fai not to maintain any contact with officials or agents of the Pakistan Government and the ISI.

"You participated in a conspiracy to defraud the US and completely deceive the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). "You knew Pakistan and the ISI was paying you in a manner because your actions would be consistent with theirs and you would represent their voice and you were willing to do so," Judge Liam O'Grady said before announcing the verdict.

The judge also said, "He (Fai) clearly knew, he is being paid...Pakistan has lost wars with India on Kashmir and so Pakistan is looking for other means to achieve its objectives."

Fai was arrested by the FBI on July 19 last year and had subsequently pleaded guilty before the court to the charges of being a paid agent of the ISI.

Fai, who was represented by Nina Ginsberg in the court, also requested the court to allow him to surrender after graduation of his daughter on June 25, a plea which was granted.

After listening from both sides and also for a few minutes from Fai himself, the judge said: "sentencing is necessary" even though he has done "moving things" on behalf of people of Kashmir.

Earlier, the U.S. Justice Department had recommended that Fai be sentenced for four years of imprisonment. He faced a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and a maximum three years in prison for the tax violation. (ANI)