Islamabad, Pakistan (CU)_ The US State Department categorically denied Pakistan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Imran Khan’s charges that Washington was involved in an alleged international plot to depose his government. Khan stated, “The United States” in an apparent slip of the tongue before alleging that a “foreign country” had given Pakistan a threatening note.
According to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led administration, its accusation of a foreign conspiracy was based on a diplomatic cable obtained from one of the country’s overseas missions. Khan made the allegation during his speech to the nation. He said, “The letter stated that the no-confidence motion was being tabled even before it was filed, which means the opposition was in contact with them”.
Shortly after Khan made the remarks on Thursday during a live televised speech from Islamabad, a State Department official denied the fact saying, “There is no truth to these allegations”. Khan took out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it before the crowd during Sunday’s huge public assembly in Islamabad, insisting that it was the proof of an international plot to destabilize his government.
The 69-year-old PM stated that the letter was written against him, not the administration. It indicated that Pakistan will be forgiven if the no-confidence motion passes; else, there will be repercussions.” He added that the message was sent via a formal letter to Pakistan’s ambassador, who was taking notes during the discussion. According to the premier, the ambassador was informed that Pakistan may face difficulties if Imran Khan remained in office.
The premier stated, “I am telling my nation today that this is our status. We are a nation of 220 million and another country —and they are not giving any reason—[is issuing threats]. They said that Imran Khan decided to go to Russia on his own even though the Foreign Office and the military leadership was consulted. Our ambassador told them that the decision [to visit Russia was made after consultations] but they are denying it and saying that ‘it was only because of Imran Khan and that our ties cannot be good if he stays. What they are actually saying is that they have no issue with the people who will replace Imran Khan.”
The US maintained that it did not send any message to Pakistan on the country’s present political circumstances in an attempt to deny charges that the US was involved in the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan administration. On February 24, Khan had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, which was the same day the Russian leader launched a special military operation against Ukraine. Moreover, Khan also became Pakistan’s first prime minister to visit Russia in 23 years, following previous PM Nawaz Sharif’s 1999 visit.
