ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office rejected media report regarding alleged sale of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine to get International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package.

Report published by The Intercept claimed that Islamabad reportedly engaged in ‘secret’ arms sales to United States as part of controversial bailout deal with IMF earlier this year. Publication backed its claims by two sources with knowledge of arrangement, saying that internal documents from both Pakistani and American governments confirm development. “These arms sales were intended to supply Ukrainian military, hence, forcing Pakistan to take side in Russia-Ukraine conflict,” it claimed.

Responding to media queries regarding issue, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch rejected story as “Baseless and fabricated”. “IMF Standby Arrangement for Pakistan was successfully negotiated between Pakistan and IMF to implement difficult but essential economic reforms.

Giving any other colour to these negotiations is disingenuous,” she added. She said Pakistan maintains policy of strict neutrality in dispute between Ukraine and Russia and in that context, does not provide any arms and ammunition to them.

“Pakistan’s defence exports are always accompanied with strict end user requirements,” she concluded.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 19 2023

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