- Leaked cable alleges US State Department pressured Pakistani authorities to remove Imran Khan .
- No-confidence vote in Parliament follows the meeting, leading to Khan’s fall from power.
- Cable outlines State Department’s diplomatic carrots and sticks, offering improved relations .
In a report dated March 7, 2022, The Intercept has disclosed that the US State Department allegedly exerted pressure on Pakistani authorities to remove Imran Khan from his position as Prime Minister. The reason cited was Khan’s perceived neutrality concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report states that a classified Pakistani government cable described a meeting between Pakistan’s ambassador to the US and two State Department officials, which had significant repercussions within Pakistan’s political landscape.
The encounter, held around a year and a half before the report, triggered intense debates and speculations within Pakistan, where political factions loyal to Khan and his opponents vied for control. Following this meeting, a no-confidence vote was conducted in Parliament, ultimately leading to Khan’s removal from power. The election process was believed to have received support from Pakistan’s influential military.
The cable, referred to internally as a “cypher,” allegedly revealed the State Department’s strategies to influence the outcome of Khan’s leadership. It is claimed that the US offered the prospect of improved relations if Khan were ousted, while hinting at potential isolation if he remained in power. The document was marked “Secret” and documented a meeting involving Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, and Pakistan’s ambassador to the US at that time, Asad Majeed Khan.
The cable purportedly disclosed both incentives and pressure tactics employed by the State Department to sway the situation against Prime Minister Imran Khan. A remark attributed to a US diplomat suggested that “all will be forgiven” if the no-confidence vote against Khan succeeded.
The background to this diplomatic maneuver includes remarks made by Lu during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing shortly before the meeting. Lu had expressed concern over the perceived neutrality of several countries, including Pakistan, in the Ukraine conflict. This unease led to discussions on how to engage with Khan following his visit to Moscow. Khan himself had addressed a rally, emphasizing Pakistan’s independent foreign policy and its refusal to be part of any alliance.
During the meeting detailed in the leaked cable, Lu reportedly conveyed Washington’s apprehension about Pakistan’s stance on the Ukraine crisis. He questioned the extent of Pakistan’s “aggressively neutral position” and suggested that it might not be as neutral as it appeared. Lu indicated that the US National Security Council had discussed the matter, attributing the stance to Prime Minister Khan.
Lu was quoted in the cable as saying that if the no-confidence vote against Khan succeeded, it could mend the relationship with the US. Conversely, if Khan remained in power, there were indications of potential isolation from both Europe and the United States. It was emphasized that these statements did not constitute an official US endorsement of any particular leader in Pakistan.
In response to inquiries about the leaked cable and Lu’s alleged remarks, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to comment on private diplomatic conversations. Despite the apparent implication of US interference in Pakistani politics, the official stance was that the US did not take a position on the leadership of Pakistan.