New Delhi, India

India's Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that New Delhi could have given more money to Pakistan than it is about to receive from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if ties were better between the two bitter neighbours. 

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Singh was addressing an election rally in the Gurez assembly seat of Bandipora district in North Kashmir when he made the comment. 

“Modi ji had, in 2014-15, announced a special package for the development of J&K, which has now reached Rs 90,000 crore ($10.74 billion). The amount is much bigger than what Pakistan was seeking from the IMF (as a bailout package),” Singh said.

“My Pakistani friends, why have strained relations, we are neighbours. If we had good relations, we would have given you more money than the IMF,” he added.

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Singh said Pakistan was using the financial aid money to fund terrorism which had stalled its economic progress. 

“It seeks money from other countries to run a terrorism factory on its soil,” said Singh. 

Notably, the IMF board last week approved a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for cash-strapped Pakistan to boost its struggling economy. The $7 billion bailout package was approved after Pakistan promised to overhaul its agriculture income tax, transfer some fiscal responsibilities to provinces and take the most expensive loan in the nation's history. 

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Rajnath tells PoK residents to join India 

Earlier this month, Singh had urged residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India, adding that the region would soon become a part of India.  

“Once our government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, we will carry out development that will make the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) want to become part of India,” said Singh.

"Support the BJP to form the next government in J&K so that we can facilitate massive development in the region. There will be so much development that the people in PoK on seeing this should say that we do not want to live with Pakistan and instead will go to India," he added.

Also read | IMF approves $7 billion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan

"I want to tell PoK residents that Pakistan is considering you foreigner but the people in India do not consider you as such. We consider you as our own and so come and join us."

India has refused to maintain bilateral relations with Pakistan stating that unless Islamabad continues to export terrorism, there was no ground to hold talks and maintain a cordial relationship.  

(With inputs from agencies)