IMF Must Rethink Assistance to Pakistan: Rajnath

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its funding for Pakistan, claiming that Islamabad will use a large portion of these funds to build terror infrastructure in its country.

Stating that Pakistan has again started to rebuild its terror infrastructure destroyed by India, Mr Singh urged the IMF to reconsider its $1 billion assistance to Islamabad and refrain from providing any support in future as well. The defence minister said that Pakistan will spend the tax collected from its citizens to give around Rs 14 crores to Masood Azhar, the head of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist organisation, even though he is a UN-designated terrorist. The Pakistan government has also announced financial assistance to rebuild the terror infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed located in Muridke and Bahawalpur, which were destroyed by India, he said. "Certainly, a large part of the IMF’s $1 billion assistance will be used to fund terror infrastructure. Will this not be considered indirect funding by IMF, an international organisation? Any financial assistance to Pakistan is no less than terror funding. The funds India gives to IMF should not be used, directly or indirectly, to create terror infrastructure in Pakistan or any other country,” he said while addressing the armed forces personnel at Bhuj Air Force Station in Gujarat.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, and other senior IAF commanders were present on the occasion.

The defence minister said India’s fight against terrorism is now part of the national defence doctrine: “We will root out this hybrid and proxy warfare.” He asserted that the current cease-fire means that India has kept Pakistan on “probation”. “If Pakistan's behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, the harshest punishment will be given”, he said.

Mr Singh made it clear that Operation Sindoor is not yet over. “Our actions were just a trailer, we will show the full picture, if need be. Attacking and eliminating terrorism is the new normal of New India,” he said.

The defence minister commended the effective role played by the Indian Air Force in Operation Sindoor, which he said is being appreciated around the world. Lauding the air warriors for eliminating the terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in just 23 minutes, he said: “When missiles were dropped inside the enemy territory, the world heard the echoes of India’s valour and might”. He added that IAF spearheaded this campaign against terrorism, and during the operation, it not only dominated the enemy, but decimated them.

“It would not be incorrect for me to say that the duration people take to have breakfast, you used that duration to deal with enemies”, he added.

Mr Singh said that India’s fighter aircraft are capable of striking every corner of Pakistan without crossing the border. “The world has witnessed how the IAF destroyed terror camps and later Pakistan’s airbases. The IAF gave proof that India’s war policy and technology have changed. They conveyed the message of New India that we are not just dependent on weapons and platforms imported from aboard, but Made-in- India equipment have become a part of our military power. The weapons manufactured in India are also impenetrable,” he said.

The defence minister said that Pakistan has itself accepted the power of the BrahMos missile. “This Made-in-India missile showed Pakistan the light of day in the darkness of night”, he said, also lauding India's air defence system, in which the Akash and other radar systems made by DRDO have played a tremendous role.

On his interaction with the brave Army soldiers at Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar on Thursday, and the air warriors and soldiers in Bhuj on Friday, Mr Singh said that he is, once again, convinced that India’s borders are completely safe. “I’ve witnessed the highest level of enthusiasm and patriotism among the soldiers on both fronts. What our forces did during Operation Sindoor has filled the country with pride,” he said.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to continuously equip the armed forces with latest weapons/platforms and modern infrastructure, Mr Singh said a strong nation respects its military and provides it with resources, technology and every support. He highlighted that, earlier, India was heavily dependent on imports, but today it is indigenously manufacturing equipment such as artillery systems, radar systems, missile shields, drones and counter-drones. “We are becoming exporters from importers, and this is just the beginning,” he said.

Mr Singh said the people of India, the government, the armed forces and other security agencies displayed unity and understanding in this fight against terrorism, with every citizen participating like a soldier. He said the government and the people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its forces at every step, expressing confidence that “together, we will completely eradicate terrorism from the region, and no one dares to cast an evil eye on the sovereignty of the nation”.