“Always sugarcoat the Truth if bitter; if you can’t do that, then just silently look the other way”:
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्
न ब्रूयात् सत्यं अप्रियं
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The Trump family, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Jared Kushner, holds a majority stake in World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency company founded in 2024.
In April 2025, WLF signed an agreement with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) to promote Pakistan as a center for cryptocurrency in South Asia and to advance the country’s blockchain infrastructure. The deal was sealed in Islamabad with high-level Pakistani officials and representatives from both WLF and PCC present.
The exact size of Pakistan’s investment in WLF (World Liberty Financial) in crypto terms has not been publicly disclosed in precise figures; reports consistently describe the partnership as a government-backed venture and a landmark agreement but do not mention a specific investment amount or stake percentage for Pakistan itself.
The deal is governmental in nature and marked by high-level attendance from Pakistani leadership, but published statements and financial disclosures have been vague regarding the direct capital commitment or token allocation from Pakistan. There is no official or media-sourced report stating the crypto-denominated value of Pakistan’s investment in WLF.
Seen as a conflict of interest, Trump’s prioritization of family ventures in Pakistan has undermined long-standing US strategic and economic alignments with India, prompting concerns among other American allies about the reliability of US commitments.
There are widespread fears that Pakistan’s use of crypto via the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial (WLF) deal may facilitate money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Multilateral agencies have flagged Pakistan’s crypto pivot as having insufficient oversight, raising risk factors for both global anti-terror regimes and international financial stability.
Pakistan’s use of crypto is part of a broader diplomatic effort to secure favorable terms with the IMF, referencing El Salvador’s strategy; this could reshape the global financial architecture, especially in terms of digital asset norms and bilateral power projections.
Pakistan-Trump crypto relationship is viewed as a major driver of international uncertainty, undermining anti-terror finance norms, destabilizing US strategic alliances, and forcing realignments in South Asian economic and security relations.
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If you have read the above unvarnished summary of the subject-matter then you’ll surely understand what the world will get from faithfully embracing the age old dictum:
“Always sugarcoat the Truth if bitter; if you can’t do that, then just silently look the other way”:
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात्
न ब्रूयात् सत्यं अप्रियं
- No one in the Indian Government or Parliament has formally raised the issue of conflict of interest regarding the Trump-Pakistan business relationship, possibly due to diplomatic caution, the complexity of Trump’s dual role as businessman and politician, and the ongoing Indo-US strategic priorities. Analysts and commentators have warned that questions over ethical boundaries and personal interests are being ignored at the top, as the relationship is seen as a sensitive matter, especially in the aftermath of military actions and the need to keep open channels with Washington. Recent podcasts and interviews with senior officials, such as Jake Sullivan, note widespread unease but no official parliamentary intervention.
- The US Congress and Senate have, in fact, launched an inquiry. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal, began probing the Trump family’s WLF dealings with Pakistan for “potential conflicts of interest and violations of the law” starting in May 2025. The probe requests communications and documentation, but WLFI has resisted compliance, framing the investigation as anti-innovation. Despite these efforts, the Republican majority and the broader context of partisan gridlock have limited more forceful action, and many concerns have yet to reach the level of public hearings or legislative censure.
- At the UNGA level, no major initiative or focused debate has been launched regarding the terror financing or money laundering risks of the WLF-Pakistan deal, although concerns are discussed in the corridors and side meetings of international agencies. India has chosen instead to escalate the matter through formal channels like FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) and FATF (Financial Action Task Force), focusing on regulatory and compliance frameworks rather than direct public confrontation at the UN. This gives India leverage within a technical, rules-based environment where evidence of money laundering or terror finance can be scrutinized.
- The Indian liberal press, including publications such as The Hindu, has maintained near-complete silence on the Trump-Pakistan-WLF issue. This may be attributed to concerns over diplomatic backlash, the complexity and opacity of the deal, the potential repercussions for Indo-US relations, and apprehensions about opening up the issue to public controversy or political polarisation. While mainstream outlets like The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, and Times of India have reported the story—often quoting international sources and foreign experts—liberal editorial pages have avoided sustained investigation or commentary, perhaps fearing accusations of anti-Americanism or jeopardising access to key diplomatic sources. The Indian Government and Parliament have not publicly raised the issue of conflict of interest in the Trump–WLF–Pakistan relationship, likely due to diplomatic sensitivities, complex US-India strategic interests, and the absence of bipartisan impetus; while commentators and ex-officials have noted the ethical dilemma, no formal parliamentary or cabinet-level action has been initiated.
- The US Congress and Senate committees have not fully aired the conflict of interest issue as it affects POTUS, but media reports confirm that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and select financial ethics panels have launched inquiries into WLFI’s dealings with Pakistan; WLFI has responded by framing criticisms as regulatory overreach and has so far resisted document requests, while broader public sessions or legislative censure remain stalled amid partisan divides.
- The United Nations General Assembly has not taken up the issue of terror financing or money laundering in the WLF–Pakistan deal, partly because member countries—including the US, Pakistan, and Gulf allies—prefer to contain and address concerns through technical forums such as FATCA and FATF; India has instead escalated its complaints to these regulatory bodies, seeking for the deal to be subjected to international compliance review and risk assessment rather than dramatic UN censure.
- The so-called liberal press in India, especially The Hindu, has largely avoided investigating or editorializing about the Trump–Pakistan–WLF nexus, most likely due to diplomatic caution, the complexity of the business and political interests involved, and fears of jeopardizing Indo-US strategic ties; some mainstream outlets have mentioned the controversy, but sustained investigative attention or in-depth editorial coverage remains absent, highlighting the broader atmosphere of reticence and self-censorship within influential press circles.
Sudarshan Madabushi