Bombs for bailout: US pressured Pakistan to secretly arm Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Intercept
18 Sep 2023 12:28

The Intercept uncovers a secret deal between the US and Pakistan in which the US facilitated an IMF loan to Pakistan in exchange for arms sales to Ukraine.

Pakistani M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs being used by the Ukrainian army (Twitter / @UAWeapons)

A recent report by The Intercept revealed that a secret deal between the US and Pakistan was struck: offering Pakistan a bailout package in exchange for a clandestine arms sale for Ukraine.

Pakistan reportedly received a facilitated controversial IMF rescue plan earlier this year through undisclosed arms sales to the United States. Informed sources corroborated these claims, further supported by internal documents from both the Pakistani and American governments. The US pressured Pakistan into getting involved in the Ukrainian war by facilitating a well-needed IMF loan.

The IMF rescue plan allowed Pakistan to defer an impending economic crisis and indefinitely postpone the scheduled elections, The Intercept explains.

#Ukraine: The massive needs of the Ukrainian Army when it comes to artillery are being met from some unorthodox sources- Ukrainian artillerymen were spotted using 122mm HE artillery projectiles made by Pakistani Ordnance Factories (POF) 🇵🇰. pic.twitter.com/Uu8X1zT6wi
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) August 30, 2022

Since the removal of Imran Khan from office, Pakistan has emerged as more of a supporter of the United States and its allies in the ongoing conflict. This support has been paid for with a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), effectively tying Pakistan's economic stability to undisclosed geopolitical agendas.

"Pakistani democracy may ultimately be a casualty of Ukraine’s counteroffensive," Arif Rafiq, a Middle East Institute scholar and specialist on Pakistan, told The Intercept.

#Ukraine: The Ukrainian army started to use another type of Pakistani ammunition- this time M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs, in this case made by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories in 2021 and 2022.

Previously Ukraine received significant quantities of 🇵🇰 122mm 155mm artillery ammo. pic.twitter.com/TTTuNVLG5f
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 16, 2023

Last month, The Pakistani oversight body, established after the dissolution of the parliament, decided to postpone the scheduled elections by four months in violation of the constitution which mandates that elections should be held within 90 days of parliament dissolution.

The election-related uncertainty has emerged amidst a backdrop of political upheaval following the incarceration of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan.