“The IMF Standby Arrangement for Pakistan was successfully negotiated between Pakistan and the IMF to implement difficult but essential economic reforms,” FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in response to media queries on the latest The Intercept story alleging the sale of Pakistani weapons to Ukraine to get an IMF bailout package for Pakistan.

“Giving any other colour to these negotiations is disingenuous,” she stated. The statement was shared by the PTV News on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

In July, the IMF’s executive board approved the agreement between Pakistan and the IMF for the $3 billion Stand-by Arrangement for nine months.

The American news organisation claimed citing two sources that secret Pakistani arms sales to the US helped to facilitate the IMF bailout which it described as “controversial”.

The news outlet also claimed to have confirmed its story from internal Pakistani and American government documents. “The arms sales were made for the purpose of supplying the Ukrainian military,” it said.

“Pakistan maintains a policy of strict neutrality in the dispute between Ukraine and Russia and in that context, does not provide any arms and ammunition to them,” FO spokesperson Baloch added. “Pakistan’s defence exports are always accompanied with strict end user requirements.”

Later, her statement was also shared by interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi on X.

Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Danila Ganich was cautious in his response when asked if Pakistan sold arms to Ukraine amid the ongoing war during an interview with Aaj News show Spot Light with Munizae Jahangir on February 14, 2023.

Russia was closely monitoring the situation, he had said and used a saying that “we will see” as so far it has not happened. He said that it does not happen.