India will present its objections to the proposed International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package for Pakistan at the Fund’s board meeting scheduled for today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed on Friday. The move comes amid heightened diplomatic strain following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, most of them tourists.
“You must be aware that the IMF meeting is underway. We will put forward our perspective and our views with the IMF members. It is up to the Board as to what decision they take,” Misri said at a press briefing in the national capital.
#WATCH | Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, “… IMF meeting is going on today, we will present our side in the meeting. Our perspective on these things will be shared with the fellow members. It is on the board to decide further… India has responsibly and adequately… pic.twitter.com/dyEevy8wfa
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025
The deadly attack in Pahalgam, has triggered a series of strong responses from India, including a significant diplomatic downgrade and the suspension of the historic Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had earlier announced that the treaty — a long-standing water-sharing agreement brokered by the World Bank — was being kept in abeyance. “The Indus Waters Treaty is in abeyance, and I have nothing further to add,” Misri said when asked about its current status.
The decision effectively stalls the flow of key river waters into Pakistan and is viewed as one of the most severe diplomatic moves India has taken since the 2019 Pulwama attack. The suspension is set to remain in place until Islamabad takes verifiable steps to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil.
Meanwhile, World Bank President Ajay Banga clarified that the international financial body plays no role in enforcing the Indus Waters Treaty beyond its original facilitation role.
The IMF board’s decision on the bailout package is expected later today. While India is not a veto-wielding member, its voice carries considerable weight given its growing influence within the Fund and the broader global financial community. Should the IMF move forward with the bailout despite India’s objections, it may further sour regional dynamics at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
