'if It's War Near Berlin, Freeze Funds. Near Delhi? Give Pak Cheque': Iim Grad Tears Into Imf

As Pakistan lines up for a $1.1 cardinal payout from nan IMF, IIM Mumbai alumnus Lokesh Ahuja has sparked a pointed speech connected world bias, powerfulness structures, and what India’s humble power astatine nan IMF really means.

In a crisp LinkedIn post, Ahuja calls retired nan “global double standards” astatine play—drawing a stark opposition betwixt really nan West reacted to Russia’s penetration of Ukraine versus really it continues to accommodate Pakistan, contempt its heavy panic links.

“Russia faced 10,000+ sanctions. Pakistan gets $1.1B from nan IMF,” he writes.
“Same playbook. Different treatment.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Ahuja notes, $300 cardinal successful reserves were frozen, SWIFT entree was cut, and brands fled overnight. Europe responded pinch urgency—because nan threat was personal. But erstwhile it comes to South Asia?

“If nan warfare is adjacent Berlin, it’s urgent. If it’s adjacent Delhi, it’s… negotiable,” he says.

He besides breaks down nan stark powerfulness imbalance wrong nan IMF:

• US holds ~17% voting power
• France, Germany, UK, China — each successful nan apical 10
• India? Just 2.7%

This is because IMF voting powerfulness is tied to a quota system—based connected a country's comparative economical size and financial contributions—not organization aliases governmental influence. 

Quotas are calculated utilizing a look that considers GDP, economical openness, variability, and world reserves.

While India is simply a fast-growing economy, its wide GDP and financial reserves stay smaller than those of nan US, China, and starring European nations. Though India is now nan 8th largest quota-holder pursuing reforms successful 2016, nan strategy still heavy favors established economical powers. Crucially, immoderate awesome reforms require 85% approval, efficaciously giving nan US veto power. This entrenched building makes it difficult for emerging economies for illustration India to summation influence, reinforcing a position quo that reflects economical clout, not strategical aliases location realities.

“IMF decisions aren’t conscionable astir economics,” Ahuja writes. “They bespeak proximity, power, and priorities.”

As India objects to nan IMF’s decision—citing concerns complete misuse of costs by Pakistan to sponsor cross-border terror—Ahuja’s station captures a rising nationalist frustration: that world systems often service their architects first, and time off emerging powers for illustration India to play catch-up successful nan corridors of world influence.

Published on: May 10, 2025 2:07 PM IST