US Behind E PM Imran Khan’s Ouster? Explosive Pakistani Cypher Leak Raises Questions
US Behind E PM Imran Khan’s Ouster? Explosive Pakistani Cypher Leak Raises Questions Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 11:14 IST The explosive diplomatic
US Behind E PM Imran Khan’s Ouster? Explosive Pakistani Cypher Leak Raises Questions Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 11:14 IST The explosive diplomatic cable has resurfaced amid renewed focus on Pakistan’s behind-the-scenes role in US-Iran diplomacy and its shifting ties with Washington. Rapid Read Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan A classified diplomatic cable linked to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations of foreign interference in his removal from office has, for the first time, been released in full as attention turns to Pakistan’s role in behind-the-scenes diplomacy between the United States and Iran. The document, known as a cypher, was published by investigative outlet Drop Site News. Identified as cable I-0678, it details a March 7, 2022 meeting between Pakistan’s then-envoy to Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, and Donald Lu, the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, weeks before Khan was removed through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. According to the document, Lu allegedly told Pakistan’s ambassador that relations between Islamabad and Washington could improve if the no-confidence vote against Khan succeeded. “I think if the no confidence vote against the Prime Minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington," the cable quoted Lu as saying. It further stated: “Otherwise, I think it will be tough going ahead." The document also reportedly warned that Pakistan risked “isolation" from the United States and Europe if Khan politically survived. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have repeatedly alleged that foreign pressure, backed by Pakistan’s military establishment, contributed to his removal from office in April 2022.
Washington and Pakistan’s military have denied the allegations. The United States has consistently maintained that there was “no truth" to Khan’s claims and that he never produced evidence proving foreign involvement in his ouster. How Ties Between Khan And Washington Deteriorated Drop Site traced the deterioration in ties between Khan’s government and Washington to multiple flashpoints before his ouster. One of the biggest disagreements centred on Afghanistan after the US withdrawal. According to the report, CIA Director William Burns travelled to Islamabad in June 2021 seeking Pakistani cooperation for post-withdrawal counterterrorism operations. Burns reportedly wanted access to Pakistani territory for drone operations targeting Afghanistan. The report said Burns failed to secure the cooperation Washington wanted. Khan later publicly ruled out allowing US military bases on Pakistani soil. “Absolutely not. There is no way we are going to allow any bases, any sort of action from Pakistani territory into Afghanistan. Absolutely not," Khan told Axios in 2021. The tensions reportedly escalated further after Khan travelled to Moscow in February 2022 for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the very day Russia invaded Ukraine. Photographs of Khan and Putin shaking hands spread globally as the invasion began. According to Drop Site, then-US Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had earlier urged Pakistan to persuade Khan to cancel the Moscow trip. The report said Washington wanted Islamabad to align more clearly with the West over Ukraine. Pakistan nevertheless went ahead with the visit, maintaining that the trip had been planned well before the war began. Days later, Pakistan abstained from a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion, joining countries including India and China.
The leaked cable reportedly showed that Washington viewed Khan’s Moscow visit with serious concern. According to the document, Lu allegedly told Pakistan’s ambassador that the Moscow trip had already “created a dent in the relationship" between the two countries. The report said Pakistan’s envoy pushed back during the conversation, arguing that the Moscow visit was part of an institutional foreign policy process and not an impulsive decision by Khan. What Happened After Khan’s Removal? Imran Khan was removed from office on April 9, 2022 through a parliamentary no-confidence vote, the first Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in such a manner. He later accused the United States of working behind the scenes to remove him because of his independent foreign policy and refusal to fully align with Washington against Russia and China. Khan also accused Pakistan’s mainstream dynastic parties — Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan Peoples Party — of collaborating with foreign powers to topple his government. Both parties denied the allegations and said Khan’s removal was entirely constitutional. Following his ouster, Khan was jailed in multiple corruption and national security-related cases. PTI has repeatedly maintained that the charges are politically motivated. Pakistan’s military-backed government moved to repair relations with Washington after Khan’s removal. According to Drop Site’s report, Pakistan later emerged as a quiet supplier of artillery shells and other military equipment routed to Ukraine through intermediaries during the Russia-Ukraine war. The report also claimed support for Pakistan’s International Monetary Fund programme was tied to the continuation of the weapons pipeline before the IMF approved a $3 billion standby arrangement in July 2023.
Why Has The Cypher Resurfaced Now? The release of the cypher comes as Pakistan’s military-backed establishment attempts to project Islamabad as an intermediary in indirect US-Iran engagement amid rising regional tensions. Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership recently pushed claims that Islamabad could help facilitate another round of discussions involving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and American officials. The report said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, circulated messages to journalists suggesting a second round of “Islamabad peace talks" between the US and Iran was expected. However, those claims later began to unravel after it became clear Araghchi was not travelling to Pakistan to reopen negotiations with Washington. Iranian national security spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei later questioned Pakistan’s credibility as a mediator. “Pakistan is a good friend and neighbor of ours, but it is not a suitable intermediary for negotiations and lacks the necessary credibility for mediation," Rezaei had said. “A mediator must be impartial, not always leaning to one side," he added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 18, 2026, 10:33 IST News world US Behind E PM Imran Khan’s Ouster? Explosive Pakistani Cypher Leak Raises Questions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
The BriefWire