India, Aug. 23 -- India has hired lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs LLC to engage with the President Donald Trump-led administration, amid rising tensions with the United States (US).

According to a public filing with the US Department of Justice, India will pay Mercury $75,000 a month for its services related to "public relations, communications, and government relations advice and services, including outreach to US media and government officials".

The firm, which once employed current White House chief of Staff Susie Wiles, has reportedly assigned partners David Vitter, a former Republican Senator from the state of Louisiana, and Bryan Lanza, a former Trump campaign communications director, to represent India.

According to informa...