It’s Not $1 Bn, Pakistan Got $2.4 Bn From Imf Even As India Warned Of Terror Funding Risk

While headlines spotlight a $1 cardinal disbursement, Pakistan successful truth unlocked $2.4 cardinal successful full support from nan International Monetary Fund—a fig that includes $2 cardinal nether an existing $7 cardinal assistance package and an further $1.4 cardinal successful an approved ambiance resilience loan. 

The IMF’s move—finalized conscionable days aft a panic onslaught successful Kashmir and amid rising subject hostilities—has drawn crisp disapproval from New Delhi, which warned that approved funds, moreover if conditional, could beryllium misused to substance state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

At Friday’s IMF Executive Board meeting, India abstained from nan ballot but made its objections clear, expressing interest astir Pakistan’s misuse of world aid. Despite this, nan IMF committee moved guardant pinch a $1 cardinal (SDR 760 million) contiguous disbursement nether nan Extended Fund Facility (EFF) aft Pakistan cleared its first review.

An further $1.4 cardinal (SDR 1 billion) was approved nether nan Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)—a indebtedness tied to ambiance and disaster preparedness. 

However, this information will only beryllium accessible if Pakistan meets definite betterment benchmarks. Indian officials reason that moreover delayed backing sends nan incorrect awesome amid an progressive subject conflict.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared nan IMF determination a governmental win: “India’s attempts to sabotage nan IMF programme person failed,” he said pursuing nan approval.

India’s finance ministry pushed backmost sharply, stating that “fungible inflows from world financial institutions for illustration nan IMF could beryllium misused,” and noting nan interest “resonated pinch respective personnel countries.”

Strategic experts were much direct. ORF’s Sushant Sareen said nan IMF had efficaciously emboldened Pakistan: “It encouraged them to proceed targeting Indian cities and subject installations.” Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal slammed nan determination arsenic “terrible optics,” criticizing G7 countries for pushing nan woody through. “Recall nan monolithic financial support fixed pinch alacrity to Ukraine,” he added, citing Western bias.

Psephologist Yashwant Deshmukh was moreover starker: “IMF has humor connected its hands.”

And successful a uncommon outburst, erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah charged that nan IMF was “reimbursing” Pakistan for its attacks. “How does nan world organization expect de-escalation erstwhile nan IMF costs nan devastation of Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Tangdhar & truthful galore different places?” he asked.

Published on: May 10, 2025 10:10 AM IST