Washington was angered by Imran Khan\u2019s government for its \u201caggressively neutral\u201d stance on Ukraine, The Intercept reports<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States brokered a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to crisis-ridden Pakistan in exchange for a secret arms deal, The Intercept reported on Sunday. The outlet, citing sources \u201cwith knowledge of the arrangement\u201d and government documents on both sides, claimed that the weapons were meant to supply the Ukrainian military amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to The Intercept, earlier this year, an insider within the Pakistani military leaked records of arms deals between the United States and Pakistan spanning from the summer of 2022 to the spring of 2023. The exchange was facilitated by Global Military Products, a subsidiary of Global Ordnance, a company seemingly connected to Ukraine. The leaked documents showed American and Pakistani contracts, licensing, and requisition documents \u201crelated to US-brokered deals to buy Pakistani military weapons for Ukraine,\u201d according to the Intercept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arms sale not only provided much-needed liquidity but also garnered significant political support from Washington, ultimately playing a \u201ckey role\u201d in Pakistan\u2019s securing a crucial bailout from the IMF. The IMF had set specific financing and refinancing targets for Pakistan, particularly concerning its debt and foreign investments. According to The Intercept, the proceeds from the munitions sale earmarked for Ukraine went a \u201clong way\u201d in bridging the financial gap that Pakistan was grappling with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who appeared to have adopted a diplomatically \u2018neutral\u2019 stance, was removed from power following a no-confidence vote organized by the Pakistani military, allegedly after being pressured by the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khan\u2019s visit to Moscow in February 2022, which marked the first by a Pakistani prime minister in 23 years, seemed to irk Washington. In a leaked diplomatic cable, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu conveyed his concerns to Pakistani Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan. Lu cautioned that Europe would follow the US in isolating then-Prime Minister Imran Khan over the Ukraine conflict. He also emphasized the potentially severe consequences if the leader remained in power and assured that \u201call would be forgiven\u201d if he were replaced. Washington has vehemently denied exerting pressure on Islamabad to oust the prime minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since his removal from office, Khan has faced over 150 legal cases and remains incarcerated until at least September 26. His supporters believe these charges are a ploy to prevent him from participating in future elections. The former prime minister\u2019s arrest led to widespread protests throughout Pakistan, prompting the military to intensify efforts to quell the demonstrations and suppress dissent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Intercept also reported that on May 23, 2023, Pakistani Ambassador to the US Masood Khan reportedly had a meeting with Lu, during which the US official convinced him that Pakistan\u2019s arms sales to Ukraine, amounting to $900 million, could bolster the country\u2019s financial standing in the eyes of the IMF. These funds could have assisted Pakistan in bridging the remaining financing gap required by the IMF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, Pakistan is embroiled in a year-and-a-half-long political crisis compounded by severe economic challenges. With rising prices of essential commodities like food, gas, and oil nationwide, Pakistan has introduced an \u2018Economic Revival Plan,\u2019 prioritizing investments in critical sectors, including agriculture, mining, information technology, defense, and energy production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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