Islamabad: Trapped in an economic crisis, Pakistan is now completely dependent on foreign aid. The crisis is also affecting the country’s army, which is now cutting down on its expenditure. Meanwhile, Pakistan has urged the US to restore military funding and sales which were suspended by former US President Donald Trump. Addressing a seminar in Washington on Thursday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan said, “It is vital that the US restore foreign military funding and foreign military sales to Pakistan, which were suspended by the previous administration.”
Relations between the US and Pakistan have been mired in uncertainty since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. At the same time, relations between Washington and Islamabad are becoming tense due to the enmity between the US and China and this has also damaged the deteriorating economy of the troubled country. According to the report of the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Elizabeth Horst was also present at the event.
‘IMF conditions are not easy’
Elisabeth Horst focused on the need to help rebuild the Pakistani economy and urged Islamabad to work with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so. He said, ‘The reforms that Pakistan and the IMF have agreed upon are not easy. But it is important that Pakistan takes these steps to put the country back on a sound financial footing. Avoid getting trapped in more debt and take the country’s economy forward.
‘Pakistan accepts IMF’s conditions
Washington has asked Islamabad to implement the ‘tough reforms’ agreed with the IMF. Recently, increased talks have shown Pakistan a new ray of hope for improving strained relations with the US. Held at the Wilson Center, in Washington, the conference focused on how the US-Pakistan relationship can be strengthened amid several challenges. The Pakistani ambassador said that Pakistan has placed its first order for Russian oil and has done so in consultation with the US government.
