SRINAGAR: A recent investigation by Disinfo Lab has revealed the deep-seated role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in funding networks that allegedly work to manipulate political and social landscapes across various nations, including India. While USAID’s involvement in regime change operations globally is widely discussed, its intricate operations within India remain obscured.
From advocacy groups to foreign commissions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and even terror-linked outfits, USAID’s funding allegedly permeates multiple layers to exploit societal divisions and destabilize India. Among its key funding conduits is billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF), which has been a significant recipient of USAID grants.
Financial Web: The Flow of Funds
Between 2002 and 2022, USAID channeled over $16.23 million directly to India and a staggering $400 million into Soros-backed entities, including $27.05 million to the Tides Foundation, known for its role in influencing narratives. The funding pattern suggests a broader agenda aimed at influencing socio-political structures.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which has repeatedly placed India on its blacklist since 2020, has also been linked to this financial web. Disinfo Lab’s report highlights that former USCIRF commissioner Anurima Bhargava is a fellow at OSF. The report suggests that USAID and USCIRF coordinate foreign funding strategies, reinforcing each other’s influence.
Islamist Links & Alleged Terror Financing
The investigation outlines USAID-backed OSF’s history of funding Islamist groups, some with alleged terror connections. It has supported organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) ($366,000), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) ($500,000), and Al-Mezan ($2 million).
ISNA’s Canadian wing was banned after it was found financing Kashmir-based terror groups. The organization was also named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation case, linked to terror financing.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID granted $110,000 to Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD), an organization with documented ties to Pakistan-based Falah-e-Insaniyat and Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief Hafiz Saeed’s network. Similarly, in 2013, USAID transferred $1.5 million to Muslim Aid, a group connected to a convicted Bangladeshi war criminal and a retired lieutenant general of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.
Exploiting India’s Fault Lines
Disinfo Lab previously exposed how USAID-backed organizations exploited caste divisions in India. OSF and Tides reportedly funneled approximately $1.5 million to Equality Labs to spread disinformation through manipulated surveys.
Additionally, the research highlights efforts to draw comparisons between India and Israel over alleged human rights violations. Groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) received funding from OSF and Tides to replicate anti-Israel propaganda against India.
Kashmir & Foreign Influence
USAID’s funding also allegedly extends to Kashmir. The Mercy Corps, a U.S.-based organization working in conflict zones, received Tides Foundation grants for Kashmir flood relief in 2014. However, in 2016, the Indian government placed Mercy Corps under the “Prior Permission Category” for foreign donor agencies due to security concerns.
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Notably, Mercy Corps’ Kashmir director, Usman Rahim Ahmad, was affiliated with the Council for Independent Kashmir, a group linked to the terror organization Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Ahmad, a U.S. citizen, was deported from India in 2012.
Media & Narrative Control
USAID’s influence reportedly extends into global media as well. In 2021, the BBC published a report by the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), which attempted to portray Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a human rights activist. CIR is reportedly part of a larger psychological operations (psy-ops) network.
In June 2024, Disinfo Lab uncovered how the Henry Luce Foundation, a USAID-linked entity, funded narrative manipulation before India’s general elections. Henry Luce, founder of TIME Magazine, also established The Asia Foundation and the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), both funded by USAID.
Trump’s Allegations & USAID Crackdown
Amid these revelations, President of the United States Donald Trump recently hinted at USAID’s involvement in influencing India’s 2024 Lok Sabha elections. During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The New Indian’s Editor-in-Chief Aarti Tikoo Singh questioned Trump on whether USAID had interfered in elections in both India and the U.S.
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“It (USAID) could have played a role in India’s elections. We saw troubling incidents in both 2020 and 2024. But the 2024 U.S. election was too massive to manipulate—though I believe attempts were made. We are pushing for single-day voting, voter ID, and paper ballots to prevent future interference,” Trump stated.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken aggressive measures against USAID, suspending most of its operations globally, except for critical humanitarian aid. Many USAID employees have been placed on leave, and overseas personnel are being recalled.
Political Uproar in India
The agency’s funding in India has sparked controversy, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey urging an investigation into USAID-backed organizations. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, Dubey accused these groups of fueling protests against the Agniveer recruitment scheme, supporting caste-based census movements, and aiding left-wing extremism.
Congress MPs strongly objected to Dubey’s remarks, but presiding officer Sandhya Ray upheld parliamentary protocol, allowing him to continue. Dubey also pointed out that Trump had effectively dismantled USAID, arguing that the agency had been used to destabilize governments worldwide.
The Bigger Picture
The Disinfo Lab report paints a concerning picture of how USAID, through its funding networks, influences politics, media, and activism in India. Whether through direct grants or via intermediaries like OSF and Tides, USAID’s financial footprint is evident in various movements that seek to challenge India’s sovereignty and social harmony.
The revelations are expected to ignite further scrutiny, with growing calls for a closer review of foreign funding sources influencing India’s domestic affairs.
