Pakistan Says Economic Ministry’s X Account Hacked After Viral Loan Appeal Amid India Tensions
Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Ministry claimed its official X account was hacked after a post appealing for international loans and de-escalation with India went viral Friday.
In a statement to Reuters, Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Ministry denied publishing a tweet that urged international partners for financial support and intervention to reduce tensions with India. “We did not tweet this. We are working to have the X (account) switched off,” a ministry official said.
The now-viral post, which remains visible at the time of reporting, made a dual appeal — requesting fresh financial aid amid economic strain and calling for global help in calming the military escalation with India.
The controversy over the X post comes as cross-border hostilities intensify. India’s armed forces conducted precision strikes on nine terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammad’s stronghold in Bahawalpur.
These strikes followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. In retaliation, Pakistan launched swarm drone and missile attacks on multiple Indian cities including Jammu, Udhampur, Pathankot, and Chandigarh.
India’s Defence Ministry confirmed intercepting these attacks and said it responded by destroying a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore with kamikaze drones.
On Friday, the Indian Army released footage of a Pakistani military post being destroyed along the LoC, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict. The Army asserted that the video was part of its response to repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.
“In response to multiple attacks along the western border and CFVs along the LoC, a befitting reply has been delivered,” the Army posted on X.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that the Indian strikes were “non-escalatory, precise, and measured,” targeting only terror infrastructure. “The escalation began with the Pahalgam attack. Our actions are in response to terrorism, not the Pakistani people,” he stated.
Misri also reported that 16 civilians were killed in Indian territories like Poonch due to Pakistan’s strikes.
Sources told India Today that over 100 terrorists have been eliminated under Operation Sindoor so far.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have surged since the April 22 attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam. India accused Pakistan-backed terror groups of orchestrating the bombing that killed 26 people, prompting a wave of military actions.
Both nations have since exchanged multiple rounds of missile, drone, and artillery strikes, raising global concerns over a potential regional war.
As the war of words and weapons escalates, the authenticity of Pakistan’s social media communication has come into question. Whether the viral tweet was an internal misstep or a genuine cyberattack, it highlights the deepening crisis facing Islamabad—both militarily and economically.
The international community has yet to formally respond to Pakistan’s plea, whether real or accidental, as ground operations and diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes.
