Pakistan’s viral loan plea post deleted after hacking claim amid border tensions
As India’s Operation Sindoor continues to strike and dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad is facing mounting economic pressure and a collapsing stock market.
In response, the Pakistan government had issued a plea to international partners for financial support and assistance in de-escalating tensions.
The request was initially posted through a verified account on social media platform X, attributed to the Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan.
The post read: "Govt of Pakistan appeals to International Partners for more loans after heavy losses inflicted by enemy. Amid escalating war and stocks crash, we urge international partners to help de-escalate. Nation urged to remain steadfast."
However, the account that posted the plea has since been deleted, and it was later claimed that the account had been hacked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨🚨FAKE TWEET ALERT:<br>The account was hacked ‼️ <a href="https://t.co/NLj9ijM04x">pic.twitter.com/NLj9ijM04x</a></p>— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) <a href="https://twitter.com/FactCheckerMoIB/status/1920698282772201710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Despite this, Pakistan’s dire economic situation remains unchanged, with the country owing approximately USD 8.8 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making it the fourth-largest debtor to the institution. Stock market indicators have reflected the instability, with the KSE-100 index plummeting over 7,500 points (a 6% drop) since April 23.
Adding to the concerns, global ratings agency Moody's warned that continued escalation of hostilities with India could adversely affect Pakistan’s economic growth, fiscal consolidation efforts, and overall macroeconomic stability.
On the military front, tensions escalated further after the Indian Armed Forces successfully repelled a major drone and missile attack on Indian military installations during the night of May 7–8. The Indian response included targeted strikes on Pakistan's air defence systems.
Speaking at a Ministry of External Affairs briefing on Thursday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi provided key details of the Indian response:
"This morning, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Air Defence Radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an Air Defence system at Lahore has been neutralised," she said.
"On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks."
On the night of May 8–9, further attempts by Pakistan to launch drone attacks and breach the Line of Control were met with a strong and immediate Indian military response. In an official statement, the Indian Army confirmed the incidents and their actions.
"Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire Western Border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May 2025. Pak troops also resorted to numerous ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The drone attacks were effectively repulsed, and a befitting reply was given to the CFVs. Indian Army remains committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nation. All nefarious designs will be responded with force."
Earlier on Thursday, sources confirmed that the Indian Army had intercepted and neutralised over 50 Pakistani drones as part of a large-scale counter-drone operation conducted along the Line of Control and International Borders.