India could have outmatched IMF funds to Pak if ties were better: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of 'seeking money from other countries to run a terrorist factory on its soil', while the country faces one of the worst economic crises.

In Short

• Pak seeks money from other countries to run terrorist factory, says Rajnath Singh
• Asserts PM Modi's package for J&K is larger than Pakistan's request to IMF
• IMF approves $7 billion loan for Pakistan amid economic crisis

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir, said that India would have pumped more money to Pakistan that they have asked for the International Monetory Fund (IMD), had the relations between the two neighbouring nations were better.

As part of its bailout program for Pakistan, currently grappling with one of the worst economic crises in its history, the IMF recently approved a new $7 billion (approximately Rs 58,597 crore) loan. Pakistan, the IMF's fifth-largest debtor, owes $6.28 billion to the Fund and has received 22 bailout packages since 1958.

"Modi Ji had announced a special PM package for development here [in Jammu and Kashmit] in 2014-15. PM Modi has given a special PM package for J-K in 2014-15. That PM package has now increased and it is so much money, that Pakistan was requesting to IMF for a fund lesser than this," the Defence Minister said.

Mentioning former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's comment that "you can change friends but not neighbours", he further asserted, "If there had been a better relationship, we would have given more money to Pakistan than what they asked from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)".

Rajnath Singh further criticised Islamamabad, saying, "Pakistan seeks money from other countries to run a terrorist factory on its soil". He added that whenever the agencies investigated terrorist activities in Kashmir, Pakistan has always been found to be involved in that.

"Whenever we have investigated terrorism, we have found Pakistani involvement. Our successive governments have tried to make Pakistan understand that they should stop terror camps but to no avail," news agency PTI quoted the Defence Minister as saying.

Singh also asserted that Pakistan has been isolated globally now, saying "Even Turkey, which used to support Pakistan, has not made mention of Kashmir at the UNGA".

The Defence Minster added that Pakistan is "frustrated" after the revocation of Article 370 and is making attempts to revive terror in Jammu and Kashmir, which saw a series of terrorist attacks in the recent past.