Pakistan Leverages US Military Coop to Win IMF Concessions

Pakistan’s military co-operation with the U.S. over withdrawal from Afghanistan has given Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government “some space” to delay unpopular IMF reforms, Financial Times reports, citing finance minister Shaukat Tarin.

• Officials are seeking U.S. support in the form of financial backing from the Washington-based lender in exchange for helping President Joe Biden withdraw all US troops by Sept. 11 and bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table

• IMF has been receptive to Islamabad’s request to hold off raising power tariffs and sales taxes, FT reports, citing Tarin

• NOTE: Tarin, who was appointed two months ago, is renegotiating some terms of the bailout program that he has termed as “tough.”