Imran Khan’s Allegations on U.S. Involvement in Government Change: A Closer Look at the Controversial Cipher
Islamabad:The document (cipher) that Imran Khan refers to as proof of U.S. involvement in the government change is not just a one-page document, but rather a comprehensive 11-point communication. This was revealed by a source familiar with the details of the matter.
According to the source, out of the 11 points, 9 address issues related to trade and human trafficking, while the remaining 2 pertain to comments made by U.S. official Donald Lu in response to questions posed by the Pakistani ambassador.
The document has ignited political debates and has become central to Imran Khan’s claims of a conspiracy. On January 3, 2025, former Prime Minister Imran Khan once again accused former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and U.S. President Joe Biden of being involved in the no-confidence motion that led to his ousting. He reiterated his claim of a foreign-backed conspiracy, calling it an overt act of interference.
### **The Cipher and the Political Fallout: What the Document Really Says**
Background briefings and interviews with officials and former ministers reveal that the cipher was not as Imran Khan has portrayed it. During a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on March 27, the country’s top military officials had declared the document to be harmless. However, Khan had already decided to use it for political purposes, shaping a narrative that his government had been toppled due to American influence.
A well-informed source revealed that U.S. Department of State official Donald Lu attended a farewell luncheon at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, where three U.S. and four Pakistani officials were seated at the same table. During the discussion, the Pakistani ambassador talked about the ongoing relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan.
### **Details of the 11-Point Communication**
According to sources, after the luncheon, the Pakistani ambassador sent a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summarizing the 11-point conversation with Donald Lu. Out of these points, 9 were focused on trade relations and illegal immigration issues, which had been major concerns in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The two remaining points discussed comments made by Donald Lu in response to the Pakistani ambassador’s questions, which were seen as part of the broader diplomatic discourse between the two nations.
### **The Cipher’s Role in Political Drama**
The cipher has become a key document in the ongoing political drama. Imran Khan, in his speeches and media statements, has maintained that the document was a direct attempt by the U.S. to interfere in Pakistan’s internal politics, and that this interference led to the downfall of his government.
However, despite the document’s focus on trade and immigration, Khan has framed it as part of a larger foreign conspiracy to remove him from office. This narrative has gained significant traction among his supporters, but experts and political analysts have questioned the validity of these claims, arguing that the document’s contents do not explicitly support the conspiracy theory that Khan continues to promote.
### **Ambassador’s Communication: A Diplomatic Context**
The diplomatic context surrounding the cipher is critical. The letter sent by the Pakistani ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects a routine exchange of views between the two countries on trade and immigration matters, with no mention of any covert attempts to undermine Pakistan’s political stability. This raises questions about the interpretation of the document by Imran Khan and his political allies.
The issue of the cipher, and its use by Imran Khan as a political tool, has further fueled the ongoing debate over U.S.-Pakistan relations and the role of foreign influence in Pakistan’s domestic politics.
As the political saga continues to unfold, the real impact of the cipher on Pakistan’s governance and international relations remains to be seen. However, it is clear that this document has become a significant symbol in the political discourse surrounding the removal of Imran Khan from office.
