A leaked Pakistani diplomatic cable has resurfaced, bringing back the spotlight on former Prime Minister Imran Khan's allegations of a "foreign conspiracy" behind his ouster. The document, known as a cypher, was published by investigative outlet Drop Site and strongly hints at an alleged US-backed conspiracy to topple the then Imran government in Islamabad. The secret diplomatic cipher allegedly details a meeting between Pakistan's then-ambassador to Washington and senior United States State Department official Donald Lu before Khan lost a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
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The cable, reportedly numbered I-0678, was allegedly sent by Pakistan’s former envoy to Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, after a meeting with former US assistant secretary of state Donald Lu.
What was mentioned in the secret cable?
According to reports, Donald Lu raised concerns over Imran Khan’s foreign policy position on the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly Pakistan’s “aggressively neutral” stance.
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“People here are quite concerned about why Pakistan is taking such an aggressively neutral position on Ukraine. If such a position is even possible. It does not seem neutral stand to us,” Lu reportedly said, according to the cable.
The leaked cable indicates that Lu hinted at improved relations between Islamabad and Washington if Khan were removed through parliamentary means.
“I think if the no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington because the Russia visit is being looked at as a decision by the Prime Minister,” the cable quoted Lu as saying. “Otherwise, I think it will be tough going ahead.” It also warned of possible "isolation" from both the US and Europe if Khan survived the challenge.
The remarks later became a major political flashpoint in Pakistan, with Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claiming the comments reflected growing US displeasure over Khan’s closeness to Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For the unversed, Imran Khan had alleged that the US conspired to remove him due to his independent foreign policy, particularly his refusal to align with Western policies against Russia and China. Washington has denied these allegations, saying there was "no truth" to the claims and that Khan never produced evidence proving foreign involvement.
The ambassador’s assessment in the cable
In his reported assessment attached to the cable, Asad Majeed Khan allegedly wrote that Donald Lu “could not have conveyed such a strong demarche without the express approval of the White House”. He also reportedly stated that Lu had “spoken out of turn on Pakistan’s internal political process”.
The cable was marked “secret” and “no circulation” and was allegedly shared with Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership, including the prime minister’s office, foreign secretary, intelligence officials and the army leadership.
After Imran Khan was removed from power through a first historic no-confidence vote, Pakistan's military-backed government reportedly aligned more closely with US strategic interests. Pakistan allegedly began quietly supplying artillery shells for the Ukraine war through US contractors and third-party channels. Reports also claimed that International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout support to Pakistan was tied to the continuation of these military supplies linked to the Ukraine.
Imran Khan’s Removal And Arrest
Imran Khan's ouster from power intensified scrutiny around Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir and the military’s role in Pakistan’s political crisis. After Khan's ouster, Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir consolidated power and aligned the military-led government with US strategic interests. The country signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia that Khan's government had resisted. Islamabad also explored partnerships in rare earths and cryptocurrency after Donald Trump's return to the White House, which led to a reset in ties between Pakistan and Washington.
