Imran Khan offers 'help'; India slams back with a reminder of Pak's own debt

A government surviving on China's alms thinks it can help India. A leader with a cash-strapped economy wants India to learn from him.

We are talking about Pakistan and its Prime Minister, Imran Khan.

Not too long ago, Imran Khan was releasing videos that depicted how helpless he had become during this pandemic. He now thinks he can dispense aid.

Also read: Pakistan's economy contracts for first time in 68 years by -0.38 pc

He is offering to help India with his "successful cash transfer programme." He posted this earlier today, with a Pakistani media report that read, "according to this report, 34% of households across India will not be able to survive for more than a week without additional assisstance. I am ready to help and share our successful cash transfer programme lauded internationally for its reach and transparency with India."

"A successful program" says Imran Khan. Not too sure about the Pakistani citizens, but it has proved successful for the Pakistan government.

Islamabad has successfully diverted money from its relief program to keep business going. It has successfully used 10 billion Pakistani rupees to loan interests on electricity bills.

"A programme lauded internationally" says Imran Khan. Does he mean the laurels it has earned from the international monetary fund?

Also read: Our stimulus package is as large as GDP of Pakistan: India tells Imran Khan after he offers 'help'

The IMF had to step in and urge the Pakistan government to freeze all non-development expenditure -- expenditure for which money was being derived from coronavirus funds.

What makes Imran Khan think he is any position to help India?

The report he is relying on is a month old; it was published on May 11 - a day before the Indian Prime Minister announced the 20 lakh crore 'atmanirbhar package' to restart the economy.

Also, the direct cash transfer programme hailed by the Pakistan Prime Minister is running on a bailout handed by the IMF.

In April 2020, IMF approved the disbursement of 1.3 billion dollars to Pakistan. This aid was in addition to the 6 billion dollars loan provided by IMF to Pakistan in July 2019. What makes Imran Khan think he is in position to help India?

Anyway, New Delhi has come down heavily on his bizarre tweet. India has reminded Pakistan how its coronavirus stimulus package alone is bigger than Pakistan's entire GDP.

Listen to this, a story that Imran Khan won't tweet about: the Pakistan army has unofficially taken control of the Pakistan government.

Islamabad is ceding whatever little space its civilians had in the country's nation-building policy to military generals.

Reports say that a dozen former and current military officials are heading the state-owned carrier. They are heading the power regulator.

The army is also in control of the national institute of health, responsible for the country's coronavirus response.

If anybody needs help right now, it is Imran Khan.