The Foreign Office Spokesperson on Monday rejected the story about alleged sale of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine for IMF bailout package as “baseless and fabricate”.
The Intercept’s report alleged that Islamabad reportedly engaged in ‘secret’ arms sales to the United States as part of a controversial bailout deal with the IMF earlier this year.
It cited internal documents from both the Pakistani and American governments that confirmed the development.
“These arms sales were intended to supply the Ukrainian military, hence, forcing Pakistan to take a side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” it claimed.
“Responding to media queries on the latest Intercept story alleging sale of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine to get IMF bailout package for Pakistan, the Spokesperson rejected the story as baseless and fabricated,” said a news statement.
“The IMF Standby Arrangement for Pakistan was successfully negotiated between Pakistan and the IMF to implement difficult but essential economic reforms. Giving any other colour to these negotiations is disingenuous,” she was quoted as saying.
“Pakistan maintains a policy of strict neutrality in the dispute between Ukraine and Russia and in that context, does not provide any arms and ammunition to them. Pakistan’s defense exports are always accompanied with strict end user requirements,” she added.
The Intercept also mentioned the consequences of Pakistan’s IMF bailout package, linking it to significant structural policies and soaring inflation within the country.
These developments have sparked widespread protests among various groups, many of whom are unaware that the current economic challenges are a result of decisions made by Pakistan’s financial and political elites. These elites, according to the report, also support a foreign war.
