Pakistan Claims X Account Hacked After Loan Appeal Amid India Tensions

Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs claimed its X account was hacked after a post appealed for international loans amid rising India tensions. The message cited war losses, but officials denied authoring it. The incident highlights Pakistan’s financial instability as conflict with India escalates following India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.

Amid growing military tensions with India, Pakistan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs claimed on Friday that its official X (formerly Twitter) account had been hacked after a controversial post surfaced appealing for international loans. The since-deleted message cited “heavy losses inflicted by enemy” and urged global partners to assist in de-escalation, calling for national resolve in the face of crisis.

The ministry quickly distanced itself from the post, telling Reuters it had not made the appeal and was working to have the account deactivated. However, the incident added to rising scrutiny of Pakistan’s fragile economic position and its handling of the conflict with India.

Pakistan is currently the fourth-largest debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a debt of nearly $8.8 billion. Analysts have warned that the continued escalation of hostilities with India could further strain its already weak economy. Credit agency Moody's recently cautioned that prolonged conflict could derail Pakistan’s fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stability.

The controversy emerged just days after India launched Operation Sindoor, a targeted military response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The operation involved missile and drone strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In retaliation, Pakistan vowed a "befitting reply" and reportedly attempted large-scale drone and missile strikes, all of which were intercepted by Indian forces.

India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that while India prefers peaceful resolution, it will not hesitate to respond decisively when provoked. He affirmed India’s readiness to defend its sovereignty without compromise.

Also Read: Pakistan Shells J&K in Retaliation to Operation Sindoor; 13 Dead, Dozens Injured in Intense Cross-Border Firing

As the geopolitical climate continues to heat up, the episode involving Pakistan’s X account raises questions about the nation's digital security, communication protocols, and its approach to crisis management.