Islamabad/ Washington DC, 18 May

A leaked diplomatic cable has reignited allegations that the United States played a role in the removal of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

According to a report by Drop Site, the classified cypher details a March 2022 meeting between Pakistan’s then ambassador to Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, and senior US diplomat Donald Lu. During the discussion, Lu allegedly suggested ties between Islamabad and Washington would improve if Khan were removed through the parliamentary process, warning Pakistan risked “isolation” from the US and Europe should he survive the vote.

The cable reportedly quoted Lu as saying: “If the no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington.”

Events leading to Khan’s ouster reportedly began in June 2021, when then CIA director William J Burns travelled to Islamabad seeking a meeting with Imran Khan. Reports said the meeting never occurred after Khan insisted on speaking only with his official counterpart, US President Joe Biden, who had allegedly declined repeated requests for direct talks.

The report also claimed Washington was frustrated after failing to secure Pakistani territory for drone bases following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Khan’s visit to Moscow on the day Russia invaded Ukraine further strained ties.

Drop Site alleged Pakistan’s military establishment separately engaged with Washington in 2021 before Khan’s removal and jail, and later aligned more closely with US strategic interests, including covert ammunition supplies for Ukraine. It further claimed that IMF support for Pakistan was quietly linked to continued military cooperation.

Washington has repeatedly denied Khan’s allegations of foreign interference, insisting no evidence has been produced to substantiate the claims.