Key Takeaways
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticizes IMF for granting loan to Pakistan, enabling it to devastate border areas in J&K.
- The IMF’s loan to Pakistan has led to increased tension along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Omar Abdullah calls for de-escalation of tensions in the subcontinent.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday hit out at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for granting loan to Pakistan claiming that it would enable Pakistan to devastate border areas of the Union Territory that have seen cross-border shelling.
The IMF cleared a USD 1-billion tranche for Pakistan as part of its USD 7-billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) lending program and USD1.3 billion tranche under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) in its board meeting held Friday. India abstained from vote and registered a ‘strong dissent’
“I’m not sure how the “International Community” thinks the current tension in the subcontinent will be de-escalated when the IMF essentially reimburses Pakistan for all the ordnance it is using to devastate Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Tangdhar & so many other places,” Omar said in a post on X.
Over the last two weeks, tension along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir has escalated in wake of Pahalgam attack. The armies of India and Pakistan have been exchanging fire since April 24. At least 20 civilians, including a senior J&K officer, have been killed in Pakistani shelling.
