Islamabad: A leaked diplomatic document has sparked fresh debate in international politics, lending weight to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s long-standing claim that foreign interference played a role in his removal from office.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), served as prime minister from August 2018 to April 2022. He was ousted after a no-confidence motion in 2022 amid domestic political turmoil and disagreements over foreign policy.
According to an investigative outlet, Drop Site News, the newly surfaced document relates to a confidential meeting in 2022 between Pakistan’s then-ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed Khan, and a US State Department official, Donald Lu.
The document alleges that Lu warned Pakistan would face a “very difficult” period if the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan failed, while suggesting that “everything would be forgiven” if it succeeded. It also claims Pakistan could be isolated by the US and European countries if Imran Khan politically survived and retained power.
The report further states that repeated clashes between Imran Khan’s government and the US on multiple issues formed the backdrop to the alleged pressure surrounding the no-confidence move.
