Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently stated at a rally in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, that India would have provided more financial assistance to Pakistan than it sought from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if relations between the two nations had been better. Singh said, “Modi Ji announced a special PM package for the development of Jammu and Kashmir in 2014-15. This PM package has now increased to a level where Pakistan’s request to the IMF is less than what we could give.”
He referenced former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s remark that “you can change friends, but not neighbors,” emphasizing that with better relations, India could have given more to Pakistan than what they requested from the IMF.
Pakistan is currently grappling with one of the worst economic crises in its history. The IMF recently approved a new loan of $7 billion (approximately ₹58,597 crore) as part of a bailout program. Pakistan, the IMF’s fifth-largest debtor, owes $6.28 billion to the Fund and has received 22 bailout packages since 1958.
During his address, Rajnath Singh criticized Islamabad, stating, “Pakistan seeks money from other countries to run a terrorist factory on its soil.” He added, “Whenever we investigate terrorism, we have found Pakistani involvement.”
Singh asserted that Pakistan is now globally isolated, saying, “Even Turkey, which used to support Pakistan, has not mentioned Kashmir at the UNGA.”
The Defence Minister also noted that Pakistan is “frustrated” after the revocation of Article 370 and is making attempts to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which has seen a series of terrorist attacks in the recent past.
