Trump faces backlash as Michael Rubin slams IMF's $1 billion bailout to Pakistan
PTC Web Desk: In a blistering critique, Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Pentagon adviser, condemned the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) decision to approve a $1 billion bailout package for Pakistan, calling it an act of defiance against the Trump administration and a misguided move that strengthens a terror-linked, pro-China regime.
Rubin, writing in a hard-hitting op-ed for the Washington Examiner, lashed out at the timing and implications of the IMF decision. “To release $1 billion to a terror-addled, pro-China regime… was not just about Pakistan; it was about the IMF thumbing its nose at President Donald Trump,” Rubin argued.
The decision came just days after Pakistan-based terrorists carried out a brutal attack in India, reportedly executing non-Muslim civilians in front of their families. Rather than disavow the attackers, Pakistani military officials reportedly attended the terrorists’ funerals in uniform, according to Rubin. He further alleged that Pakistan later launched a retaliatory strike against India, escalating regional tensions.
Rubin strongly criticised the IMF's move as contradictory to US efforts to de-escalate tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. “The IMF’s decision actively undercuts US diplomacy,” he said, stressing that financial aid should not be extended to states promoting or sheltering terrorism.
He further raised concerns over the geopolitical consequences, describing Pakistan as a “satrapy of China”. Rubin cited Islamabad’s $40 billion debt under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as evidence that the IMF bailout ultimately serves to prop up Chinese interests. “This funding is effectively a backdoor bailout for the People’s Republic of China,” Rubin noted.
Rubin called on the Trump administration to push back using America’s financial leverage, pointing to the $150 billion the US contributes to the IMF. “Trump should not tolerate such waste, fraud, or disrespect,” he emphasised, adding that the US must reassess its role in international institutions.
Rubin praises India’s Operation Sindoor, flays Pakistan’s military
In a separate interview with ANI, Rubin praised India’s swift military retaliation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, which he said effectively exposed Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and dismantled its long-standing victim narrative.
“Militarily, Pakistan is shocked,” Rubin said. “They’ve started every war with India and convinced themselves they’ve won. But this time, the outcome is undeniable—they not only lost, they lost very, very badly.”
He portrayed Pakistan’s military response as chaotic and ineffective, suggesting that the country’s leadership was desperate to secure a ceasefire. “Islamabad went running like a scared dog with its tail between its legs,” he told ANI. “There is no narrative that the Pakistani military can spin this time.”
- With inputs from agencies
