Conflict continues, India repulses drone attacks

The IMF voted on a $1.3bn bailout package for Pakistan on Friday, India abstained

- Manas Pimpalkhare & Subhash Narayan

The exchange of fire between India and Pakistan continued on Friday night, with India repulsing multiple drone attacks and imposing blackouts in 14 districts of Punjab. According to defence officials and eyewitnesses, drone attacks were beaten back by Indian forces in areas such as Jammu, Samba, Pathankot, Pokhran, Ferozepur, Rajouri, Falodi, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in discussions with national security advisor Ajit Doval, and Vikram Misri, foreign secretary, late on Friday night.

Also on Friday, the IMF voted in Washington on a $1.3-billion bailout package for Pakistan, which India abstained from.

In a media statement released the same day, the government noted: "As an active and responsible member country, India raised concerns over the efficacy of IMF programs in case of Pakistan given its poor track record, and also on the possibility of misuse of debt financing funds for state-sponsored cross-border terrorism."