'Pakistan a satrapy of China': Trump faces flak for not blocking IMF loan

Michael Rubin, a military strategist at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, criticised the Trump administration for supporting a $1 billion IMF bailout for Pakistan, especially when Pakistan is accused of sponsoring terrorism as state policy, according to a report by The Times of India.

“By sending money to Pakistan, the IMF is also effectively bailing out China. Pakistan is now a satrapy of China. Its Gwadar port was the first pearl in China’s string, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has left Islamabad $40 billion in debt,” Rubin told TOI.

“There’s no way Pakistan’s military can cover up the fact that they didn’t just lose, but lost very badly,” Rubin said in a video, slamming Islamabad’s propaganda after Indian strikes hit key Pakistani air bases and military sites.

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In an opinion piece on Wednesday, Rubin criticised the US for not blocking the IMF’s $1 billion bailout to Pakistan, calling it one of the “world’s most corrupt countries.” He also pointed out that the IMF approved the funds shortly after Pakistan-based terrorists crossed into India and executed non-Muslims in front of their families.

Despite India’s objections, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the $1 billion loan as part of its $7 billion bailout programme for Pakistan.

India abstained from the IMF vote, warning that the money could be misused to fund cross-border terrorism. Indian officials also criticised Pakistan’s poor record on reforms and warned that the IMF’s decision could damage its own credibility.

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There are also growing concerns about Pakistan’s rising debt to China, mainly because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). By 2023, Pakistan’s external debt had exceeded $131 billion, with $30 billion owed to China.