Pak military chief seeks US help on release of $1.7b IMF loan

Pakistan's powerful army chief has contacted Washington, seeking US help in securing an early release of a crucial USD 1.7 billion instalment from the International Monetary Fund to his country, struggling with a deepening economic crisis, Pakistani officials said, reports AP.

According to several government officials, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa discussed the issue with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, appealing on Washington to use its influence with the IMF to help Pakistan.

The appeal was a rare reaching out by the army chief. Pakistan's relations with the United States have been troubled in recent years, mainly over the issue of neighbouring Afghanistan, now run by the Taliban.

The relations remained especially tense under former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April. However, Pakistan's military, which has directly ruled the country for more than half of its 75-year history, has closely worked with the US and was an official ally in the war on terror against al-Qaida.

Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed Friday that Bajwa and Sherman had talked.

"I understand (the) conversation has taken place, but at this stage, I am not in direct knowledge of the content of this discussion," said ministry spokesman Asim Iftikhar.

The officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday said the discussion focused on the IMF loan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. Pakistan and the IMF originally signed the bailout accord in 2019. But the release of a USD 1.7 billion tranche has been on hold since earlier this year, when the IMF expressed concern about Pakistan's compliance with the deal's terms under Khan.