Judge says Fai can be freed on bail

A U.S. judge said Syed Ghulam Ahmed Fai, accused of improperly lobbying for Pakistan, can be freed on $100,000 bail but remain under electronic surveillance. U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Anderson in Fairfax, Va., said Fai, 62, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Fairfax, can be released to the custody of his wife, CNN reported. The U.S. government is currently holding Fai's passport. Fai was arrested this week by the FBI and charged with acting as an agent in violation of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act. He was accused of a decades-long scheme to hide Pakistan's involvement in support of his alleged efforts to influence the U.S. government's position on Kashmir. Kashmir is claimed both by India and Pakistan and the two countries have fought two wars over it since 1947. Federal authorities say Fai's handlers in Pakistan allegedly funneled millions of dollars through the Kashmir American Council or Kashmir Center, based in Washington. The FBI also charged Zaheer Ahmad, 62, also a U.S. citizen, who is believed to be living in Pakistan and the charges also implicated the Pakistani military and its Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence. Pakistan has said Fai's arrest is part of a U.S. slander campaign against it.