Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during a rally in Bandipore, Jammu and Kashmir, made a pointed remark on Pakistan’s current economic crisis, stating that India could have provided more financial assistance than what Pakistan sought from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if the ties between the two nations had been better. Rajnath Singh’s comment came as Pakistan grapples with one of the worst economic crises in its history, for which the IMF recently approved a new $7 billion loan to aid its economy.
Drawing a comparison between India’s support for Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s financial challenges, Rajnath Singh referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special development package for Jammu and Kashmir announced in 2014-15. The Defence Minister emphasized that the funds provided by India for the region exceeded the amount Pakistan requested from the IMF, highlighting the disparity between the two countries’ economic situations. “The package PM Modi announced for Jammu and Kashmir has now increased, and it is more than what Pakistan was asking from the IMF,” Rajnath Singh stated, underscoring India’s ability to outmatch the financial assistance Pakistan seeks from international organizations.
Pakistan, the IMF’s fifth-largest debtor, owes $6.28 billion to the Fund and has received a total of 22 bailout packages since 1958. Rajnath Singh, while addressing the economic situation, criticized Pakistan for relying on external financial aid while continuing to support terrorism. He accused Pakistan of using the funds it receives from international institutions and other countries to “run a terrorist factory on its soil.” Rajnath Singh further alleged that whenever terrorist activities in Kashmir are investigated, Pakistani involvement is uncovered, reaffirming India’s long-standing accusations against Islamabad for its role in supporting terrorism in the region.
The Defence Minister also remarked on Pakistan’s growing global isolation, claiming that the country has lost significant international backing. He pointed out that even Turkey, which once supported Pakistan, has not mentioned Kashmir in the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. This, Rajnath Singh suggested, demonstrates Pakistan’s declining influence on the global stage, especially concerning the Kashmir issue.
He concluded by accusing Pakistan of being “frustrated” following India’s revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. According to Rajnath Singh, this frustration has led Pakistan to attempt to revive terrorism in the region, evident in the recent surge in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
