Following a night of escalating cross-border fire between India and Pakistan, the official X account of Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division posted an appeal for additional loans from international partners. The post also claimed that the country had suffered “heavy losses inflicted by the enemy” due to the conflict.
The tweet, posted at 9:01 AM, was declared fake within an hour by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ministry stated that the X account of the Economic Affairs Division had been hacked.
"The Government of Pakistan appeals to international partners for more loans after heavy losses inflicted by the enemy. Amid escalating war and stock market crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate," the now-debunked post read.
This comes as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board in Washington is scheduled to meet on Friday to review the financial assistance provided to Pakistan, but the proposal is expected to face strong resistance from India. New Delhi is likely to oppose further disbursements, citing concerns over the possible diversion of funds to terror-related activities, especially in light of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
India’s military response on May 9 came after Pakistan launched airstrikes that violated the ceasefire agreement, resulting in civilian casualties in Poonch. On Thursday, Indian authorities reported that they had disabled Pakistan’s air defence system in Lahore after 13 civilians were killed and more than 40 injured during shelling.
The Indian government also said it had intercepted and thwarted attempted strikes on 15 military installations. Intelligence reports indicated that the air defence system in Lahore had been “neutralised.”
“These strikes were countered through the Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and air defence mechanisms. Recovery efforts are underway to collect debris from multiple sites, which officials say confirm Pakistan’s role in the attacks,” the official statement noted.
These events followed India’s Operation Sindoor on Wednesday, in which strikes were carried out on nine terror-linked locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was described as justice for the 26 people killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
