Former Pentagon official and U.S. military strategist Michael Rubin has launched a scathing attack on the Donald Trump administration and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for greenlighting a $1 billion bailout to Pakistan, calling it a strategic misstep that aids both Islamabad and Beijing.
In an op-ed for the American Enterprise Institute, Rubin criticized the IMF’s decision to approve the first review of a $7 billion loan programme for Pakistan, which came just days after the Pahalgam terror attack in India that claimed 26 lives.
“By sending money to Pakistan, the IMF is also effectively bailing out China. Pakistan is today a satrapy of China… its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has already sunk Islamabad $40 billion in debt,” Rubin wrote.
Rubin warned the funding bolsters a “terror-addled, pro-China regime”, undermining American foreign policy and national security interests. He also took a direct jab at Trump, saying the IMF’s move was akin to “thumbing its nose at President Donald Trump,” who recently claimed efforts to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions.
Rubin likened IMF support for Pakistan to enabling a destructive addiction:
“When an alcoholic uses donations to buy hard liquor, the answer is not to up his allowance; it is to cut him off.”
He also joined a growing chorus of global security analysts who believe India emerged stronger after its four-day military conflict with Pakistan. In a video message, Rubin said:
“Pakistan ran like a scared dog with its tail between its legs… They lost very, very badly.”
The IMF, meanwhile, defended its decision, citing “significant progress in stabilizing the economy and rebuilding confidence” in Pakistan amid global challenges. However, no new funds from the IMF’s resilience loan facility were released.
India formally opposed the bailout during the IMF board meeting, warning about the potential misuse of funds for state-sponsored terrorism. Indian officials demanded a broader review of future financing to Pakistan, particularly in light of ongoing cross-border threats.
