• Source:JND
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India on Friday called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its $1-billion assistance to Pakistan, suggesting that Islamabad could use it for terror funding, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying, "Islamabad will spend the tax collected from its citizens to give around PKR 14 crore to Masood Azhar".

In an address to military personnel in Gujarat's Bhuj, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India does not want the funding it gives to the IMF should be used directly or indirectly to create terror infrastructure in Pakistan or any other country. "Pakistan plans to use taxpayer money to provide approximately PKR 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the leader of the UN-designated terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed," said the Defence Minister. "The Pakistani government has also announced financial aid to help rebuild terror infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Muridke and Bahawalpur," he added.

Rajnath Singh raises concerns over IMF aid to Pakistan 

"I believe that in today's time, any kind of financial assistance to Pakistan is nothing less than terror funding. “India would like the IMF to reconsider its assistance of one billion dollars to Pakistan and refrain from giving any kind of assistance in future," he said.

Singh, who arrived at the Bhuj Air Force station in the morning to review the overall security situation, lauded the Indian Air Force for spearheading the campaign against terrorism effectively. He said during Operation Sindoor, India's armed forces not only dominated the enemy but also succeeded in decimating them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined 'Operation Sindoor', Singh said. 

Lauding the Indian Air Force for spearheading the campaign against terrorism effectively, he said, “Our Air Force has touched new and greater heights with its valour, courage and glory.”

Pakistan will use IMF aid to fund terrorists: Singh 

In his address, he said that the $1 billion IMF assistance to Pakistan would be used to fund terror infrastructure, and wondered if that would not be considered “indirect funding” by an international organisation. Singh said Pakistan has again started rebuilding the destroyed terror infrastructure, and its government has collected taxes from the common Pakistani citizens to give it to Masood Azhar, the head of Jaish-e-Mohammed and a UN-designated terrorist.

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The Pakistan government has also announced financial assistance to rebuild the terror infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM in Muridke and Bahawalpur, he said. With the government and terrorism linked in Pakistan, the possibility of nuclear bombs in the country falling into the hands of terrorist elements cannot be ruled out, he said.

“The mask of the state and non-state actors has now been completely removed. In such a situation, if nuclear bombs are kept there, then the possibility of them falling into the hands of terrorist elements cannot be ruled out in the future,” he said. He said it is a matter of grave danger not only for India but also for the whole world and the people of Pakistan.

This is a trailer...: Rajnath warns Pakistan

With the pause in the military action, India has put Pakistan on “probation, he said. “In India, a troublemaker is put on probation by the magistrate for good behaviour for some time. If that person does any mischief during the probation, he is given appropriate punishment,” Singh said.
“Similarly, in the current ceasefire, we have put Pakistan on probation. If its behaviour improves, then it is fine, but if its behaviour deteriorates again, it will be given the harshest punishment,” he added.

Singh said India's fight against terrorism is not just a matter of security but has become a part of the national defence doctrine.

(With inputs from agency)

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