Operation Sindoor: Pakistan has requested a new $1.3 billion loan under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility, a meeting for which is scheduled for today, May 9. It will determine whether Pakistan meets the necessary conditions to unlock the next tranche of funding. Ahead of the meeting, Pakistan confirmed “heavy losses” after India’s Operation Sindoor, amid its stock market crash. It has also asked for more loans from its international partners. However, soon after the backlash, Pakistan claimed that their X handle seeking loans for “losses” was “hacked”.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, as reported by Reuters, claimed that it did not share the post on X, adding that its “account has been hacked”, and it is “working to have the X (account) switched off”.

Fact Checker MoIB, the official Twitter handle of Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for exposing fake news, has said that the “account was hacked” and tagged the post as “fake news”. 

‘Need more loans’: Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division

“Government of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflicted by the enemy,” said the Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan in a statement. It added, “Amid escalating war and stock crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast.”

PIB Trolls Pakistan

PIB has joined numerous other social media users in trolling Pakistan seeking funds from international partners ahead of key IMF meeting today.

Pakistan, currently facing a severe economic crisis, is highly reliant on IMF loans, with its forex reserves down to $15 billion. It is to be noted that India has the world’s fastest-growing economy, with its GDP reaching approximately $3.88 trillion in 2024—more than ten times the size of Pakistan’s economy, which stands at just $0.37 trillion, according to World Bank data. Looking ahead, India is projected to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2025, overtaking Japan, with a nominal GDP expected to rise to $4.187 trillion, as per the IMF’s World Economic Outlook.

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India on IMF loans to Pakistan

Foreign Secretary Misri said that IMF loans to Pakistan have been indirectly funding Pakistan’s military intelligence operations, including groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He added that given its timing, it can also be used to fuel its ongoing cross-border terrorism activities, particularly against India.

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“Pakistan’s reputation as the epicentre of global terrorism is rooted in a number of instances… I don’t need to remind you where Osama Bin Laden was found and who called him a martyr,” he said. 

He also pointed to the large number of terrorists, including those sanctioned by the UN, who continue to operate within Pakistan’s borders.

“Our approach is not to escalate the situation; we only responded to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack,” Foreign Secretary Misri asserted.

(With inputs from agencies)