In a significant escalation of its diplomatic stance, India is reportedly considering opposing a proposed $1.3 billion loan to Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), signaling mounting tensions between the two South Asian neighbors.
This move comes shortly after India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty dispute resolution process, citing Islamabad’s “weaponization” of multilateral forums and legal mechanisms. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, governs the sharing of water from six rivers flowing through the Indus Basin, a critical lifeline for both nations.
According to senior officials, India’s potential objection to the IMF loan is aimed at drawing international attention to what New Delhi perceives as Pakistan’s misuse of global institutions for political leverage. “Pakistan cannot seek financial relief from the very institutions it simultaneously tries to manipulate against India,” a top Indian government source was quoted as saying.
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The IMF’s Executive Board is expected to deliberate on the bailout package for Pakistan in the coming weeks. While India is not a direct voting member of the IMF board, it can influence decisions through its alliances with major stakeholders.
Experts view India’s dual strategy—halting treaty talks and targeting international financing—as a calibrated attempt to hold Pakistan accountable for what it describes as a pattern of “diplomatic hostility and legal obstructionism.”
Pakistan, facing a severe economic crisis with soaring inflation and dwindling foreign reserves, views the IMF bailout as crucial for stabilizing its economy.
As regional tensions continue to simmer, observers warn that further diplomatic escalation could have broader geopolitical implications, especially with major global powers closely monitoring developments in South Asia.
