Pakistan Denies Loan Plea Post, Claims Economic Affairs Division’s X Account Was Hacked

Pakistan now asserts that a cyberattack on its Ministry of Economic Affairs' official X (previously Twitter) account was the cause of a viral message requesting emergency international funds amid rising tensions with India and a worsening economic crisis.

The tweet had garnered a lot of media attention because it seemed to call on friendly countries and international organisations to provide immediate financial support. It noted a stock market meltdown, connected Pakistan's financial hardship to the ongoing military conflict with India, and called for the international community to assist in "de-escalating."

Hours later, though, the Pakistan Ministry told Reuters in a statement that the X account had been compromised. The ministry said that they "did not tweet" the loan appeal, but added, "We are working to have the Twitter (X) switched off."

The fact-checking arm of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting later posted an alert on X, calling the previous statement a "FAKE TWEET" and asserting that the account had been compromised. In the fact-check image, the now-deleted post was marked with a big red "FAKE" warning and featured official government symbols.

The purported hacking event occurs the day before an important board meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, where India has stated that it will discuss its stance on any possible financial rescue for Pakistan. India's executive director at the IMF will "put forward India's position," Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Thursday, adding that the international organisation should already be well aware of Pakistan's history of bailouts.

Misri went on to say, "Many of the 24 IMF packages given to Pakistan didn't end successfully," subtly casting doubt on the viability of giving Islamabad additional funding.

Following India's military campaign against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, known as "Operation Sindoor," tensions between the two neighbours have significantly increased. Investors have been shaken by the scenario, and capital flight has accelerated, sending Pakistan's financial markets into a tailspin.

However, critics and observers have questioned the Ministry's explanation, pointing out that Pakistan has frequently resorted to foreign lenders in times of economic hardship. It's unclear if the initial request was sincere or if it was a poorly written internal message that was later attributed to a hack.