India has taken a strong stance against Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In response to the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and a local resident, India has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review its loans to Pakistan.
The Indian government believes that Pakistan needs to be held accountable for the attack and has raised its concerns with the IMF, which provides financial assistance to countries in need. This move comes amidst rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with fears that the situation could escalate into a military conflict.
Indian officials have identified two of the terrorists involved in the attack as being from Pakistan, although Pakistan has denied any involvement and has called for a neutral investigation. In retaliation for the attack, India has also halted the key Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan and suspended the Shimla Agreement of 1972. Both countries have also closed their airspace to each other’s airlines.
Pakistan, which received a $7 billion bailout from the IMF last year and a new $1.3 billion loan in March to address climate issues, has acknowledged its past mistakes in supporting terrorist activities. Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif have both admitted that Pakistan has supported terror groups in the past, describing it as a mistake from which they have learned valuable lessons.
Bilawal emphasized that Pakistan has undergone internal reforms to address the issue of terrorism and has moved away from its past associations with extremist groups. He stated that Pakistan’s history of supporting terrorism is a thing of the past and that the country has taken steps to correct its previous errors.
The admission from Pakistani officials, coupled with India’s calls for a review of IMF loans, highlights the ongoing tensions between the two countries and the complex geopolitical landscape in South Asia. The region remains on edge as both countries navigate the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and work towards restoring stability and peace in the region.
