Modi Govt 'buckled under U.S. pressure' at IMF meeting on Pakistan loans: Congress

Congress accuses Modi Government of bowing to U.S. pressure at IMF meeting regarding loans to Pakistan.

A day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the IMF to rethink its assistance to Pakistan, the Congress on Saturday (May 17, 2025) alleged that the Modi Government had “simply buckled under U.S. pressure” at the IMF Executive Board meeting when the loans to that country were deliberated upon.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Singh is now criticising the IMF for approving loans to Pakistan on May 9, 2025, “but on April 29th itself — before the Modi Government woke up — the Congress had said that the IMF Executive Board was meeting on May 9th to consider this issue and that India should oppose it forcefully”.

“As it turns out India only abstained on May 9th. Later the Modi Government’s drumbeaters, cheerleaders and apologists argued that this was the only option available to India. This is a lie,” Mr. Ramesh claimed.

There is indeed a provision to vote No in the Executive Board, he said.

Russia had voted No on a loan proposal to Ukraine in September 2016 and India herself had voted No on September 11, 2005, on the issue of the expulsion of Zimbabwe, the Congress leader said.

“Where there is a will there is a way. The Modi Government simply buckled under U.S. pressure on May 9th at the IMF Executive Board meeting,” Mr. Ramesh said.

India on Friday (May 16) pressed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its $1 billion assistance to Pakistan, saying Islamabad could use a large part of it to fund the terrorist infrastructure.