Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Offers Aid to Neighbour with Conditions

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that India would have provided a larger bailout package to Pakistan than sought from the IMF if friendly relations had been maintained. Speaking at an election rally in Gurez, Singh highlighted India's development efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, contrasting it with Pakistan's misuse of financial aid for terrorism.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday stated that India would have provided a larger bailout package to Pakistan than what was sought from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), provided Islamabad had maintained friendly relations with New Delhi.

Speaking at an election rally in Gurez, Bandipora district, Singh reminisced about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014-15 special development package for Jammu and Kashmir, which now totals Rs 90,000 crore—surpassing Pakistan's request from the IMF.

Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement on unchangeable neighbors, Singh invited Pakistan to foster friendship instead of tension. He criticized Pakistan's misuse of aid for terrorism and reaffirmed India's capacity to counter any threats. Singh pledged that if the BJP wins, more local recruits would join the Indian Army, and infrastructure improvements in Gurez would continue.

(With inputs from agencies.)