Pakistan Embarrassed After Hacked X Account Posts Loan Appeal; Govt Denies Tweet

Pakistan Loan Appeal: In a fresh diplomatic embarrassment for Pakistan, the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of its Ministry of Economic Affairs appeared to post a public appeal for financial aid to international partners — a move that sparked controversy and speculation amid rising tensions with neighboring India.

However, the ministry quickly distanced itself from the post, claiming its account had been hacked. The now-deleted tweet, which reportedly requested fiscal assistance, led to an online uproar and raised questions about Pakistan’s internal cybersecurity and financial stability.

In a statement to news agency Reuters, the ministry said, “We are working to have the Twitter (X) account switched off,” asserting that they did not author the tweet. The clarification came hours after the message had already spread across social media, prompting reactions both within and outside Pakistan.

The incident comes at a sensitive time, as relations between India and Pakistan remain tense over various political and security issues. While Islamabad has not officially named any suspects behind the alleged cyberattack, the breach has further exposed vulnerabilities in its digital infrastructure.

As of now, no official request for aid has been acknowledged by international bodies, and the Pakistani government maintains that the tweet was unauthorized and does not reflect its official policy.

This episode adds to Pakistan’s ongoing struggles with economic instability, with the country heavily reliant on external financing and IMF programs to stabilize its economy. The government, however, appears keen to control the narrative, emphasizing that no such appeal was ever intended.