A recently leaked diplomatic cable has reignited intense controversy in Islamabad and Washington, suggesting that United States officials expressed clear dissatisfaction with former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s leadership just weeks before his removal from power in April 2022. The document, purportedly a summary of a March 2022 meeting between Pakistani Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, indicates that Washington warned of potential repercussions for Pakistan’s international standing if Khan remained in office.
Context of the Diplomatic Friction
The political climate in Pakistan during early 2022 was defined by a deepening economic crisis and a fragile coalition government. Imran Khan, who had maintained a policy of neutrality regarding the conflict in Ukraine, faced mounting pressure from domestic opposition parties and a skeptical military establishment.
The cipher documents a conversation in which Lu allegedly stated that Pakistan’s relations with the West would remain strained as long as Khan continued his policy of non-alignment. According to the transcript, Lu suggested that a successful vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister would lead to a reset in bilateral ties, famously noting that
