New Delhi, May 23 -- Following India's protest over the $1 billion bailout to Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a clarification defending the disbursement, stating that Pakistan fulfilled all the necessary conditions to qualify for the latest tranche.

Speaking at a press briefing, Julie Kozack, director of the IMF's communications department, stated, "Our Board found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets. It had made progress on some of the reforms, and for that reason, the Board went ahead and approved the program."

Kozack elaborated that the first review was scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.

The IMF also touched upon the broader India-Pakistan tensions. "With respect to Pakistan and the confl...