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India has denied reports that it asked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Italian government to stop giving financial aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pulwama. The Ministry of Finance has stated that these reports are baseless. According to reports from the news agency ANI, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had asked her Italian counterpart, Giancarlo Giorgetti, to review financial aid to Pakistan during a bilateral meeting in Milan. Another report also claimed that Sitharaman made a similar request to the President of the Asian Development Bank, Masatsugu Asakawa, during a meeting related to the bank’s annual meeting of governors.
The Ministry of Finance has denied both claims, calling them baseless. In a social media post, the ministry shared a screenshot of the news article and stated that the reports are without foundation. The Pulwama attack has led to increased tensions between India and Pakistan, with India demanding that Pakistan takes concrete steps to curb terrorism. The attack, which killed over 40 Indian security personnel, was carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist group. India has been urging the international community to pressure Pakistan to take action against terrorism, and the reports of India asking for a stop to financial aid to Pakistan were seen as part of this effort. However, with the Ministry of Finance denying these reports, it appears that India’s approach may be more nuanced.
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank that provides financial assistance to its member countries, including Pakistan. Italy is also a significant donor to Pakistan, providing aid for development projects in the country. If India had indeed asked for a stop to financial aid to Pakistan, it would have been a significant diplomatic move, given the importance of these organizations in providing development assistance to Pakistan. However, with the denial from the Ministry of Finance, it seems that India’s approach to dealing with Pakistan and terrorism will continue to be multi-faceted, with a range of diplomatic, economic, and military options on the table.
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