U.S. Cable on Pakistan Political Shift Released After Four Years

A diplomatic cable dated March 7, 2022, between Pakistan's ambassador in Washington and U.S. assistant secretary of state Donald Lu has been released. The cable records a meeting in which the ambassador was told that removing Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote would lead to Washington looking the other way.

" Imran Khan left office 33 days after the meeting.

2021, CIA Director William Burns traveled to Islamabad to meet Khan but left without a meeting after waiting a full day. Khan had stated he would only speak to his counterpart. Weeks later Khan told Axios that Pakistan would not allow bases or actions from its territory into Afghanistan.

July 2021, Pakistan's military placed a former CIA Islamabad station chief on retainer as a lobbyist in Washington without Khan's knowledge. On February 24, 2022, Khan visited Moscow on a previously scheduled trip despite calls from U.S. officials to cancel.

Pakistan abstained on a UN vote condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The cable followed weeks later. defense contractors. American support for Pakistan's IMF lifeline was linked to maintaining that pipeline. Pakistan received a $3 billion bailout in July 2023.

In February 2024 elections were held amid allegations of rigging. Khan has faced multiple legal cases and has been in custody for nearly three years. His wife remains in prison. His party has been barred from using its electoral symbol. The cable's release confirms earlier reports that it existed despite previous denials.