IMF must rethink aid to Pak: Rajnath
Addressing IAF personnel at the Bhuj Air Force Station, Rajnath expressed concern over Islamabad’s move to provide compensation to the families of slain terrorists and rebuild infrastructure linked to banned terror groups.
Rajnath’s reference was to an exclusive report published in The Tribune on May 14, highlighting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of providing comprehensive support and a compensation of Rs 1 crore each to legal heirs of those killed in the Indian airstrikes on nine terrorist bases on May 7. The announcement also included a commitment to rebuild houses.
‘Pak to pay Rs 14 cr to Azhar from taxpayers’ money’ After The Tribune highlighted Pak plan to compensate kin of those killed in Indian strikes, Rajnath said Islamabad would spend the tax collected from citizens to give Rs 14 cr to JeM chief Masood Azhar.
‘Pak to pay Rs 14 cr to Azhar from taxpayers’ money’
After The Tribune highlighted Pak plan to compensate kin of those killed in Indian strikes, Rajnath said Islamabad would spend the tax collected from citizens to give Rs 14 cr to JeM chief Masood Azhar.
“Any financial aid to Pakistan is no less than terror funding. The funds India gives to the IMF should not be used, directly or indirectly, to create terror infrastructure in Pakistan or any other country. We want the IMF to rethink it," he said.
Rajnath pointed to reports of Islamabad’s plans to restore terror infrastructures in Muridke and Bahawalpur — the strongholds of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, respectively.
“Pakistan will spend the tax collected from its citizens to give around Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, even though he is a UN-designated terrorist," he said.
Rajnath questioned the integrity of global financial institutions if aid disbursed under humanitarian or developmental pretexts ends up bankrolling violent extremism. “Certainly, a large part of IMF’s $1 billion assistance will be used to fund the terror infrastructure. Will this not be considered indirect funding by the IMF,” he asked.
Asserting that Operation Sindoor was still on, Rajnath said the armed forces had not only dominated the enemy but also succeeded in decimating it.
He said the operation was not yet over, as the current ceasefire meant that India had kept Pakistan on “probation" on the basis of its behaviour.
“If the behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, the harshest punishment will be given,” the minister warned.
Rajnath said India’s fight against terrorism was not just a matter of security but had now become a part of the national defence doctrine. “We will root out this hybrid and proxy warfare,” he said.
The minister lauded the IAF for spearheading the operation against terrorism effectively. “It is no small matter that the IAF can reach every corner of Pakistan, which has been completely proven," he said.
He said the IAF had not only demonstrated its valour to the world but had also given proof that India’s war policy and technology had changed.
“You have conveyed the message of a new India to the whole world," the minister told the troops on the ground.
The minister also highlighted how India was not dependent on weapons from other countries. “India is now not dependent only on weapons and platforms imported from abroad, but weapons and arms made in India have also become a part of our military power," he said, adding that the world had seen that weapons made in India were also infallible and impenetrable.
Personnel of the Army, IAF, Border Security Force and other security agencies attended the event.
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