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WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Sunday reiterated its stance that there’s no truth to the claims that Washington was involved in a conspiracy to bring down the PTI government.
The controversy resurfaced on Sunday with media reports that PTI’s secretary overseas Abdullah Riar “has contacted US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and asked him to forget the past and move forward”.
In March, former prime minister Imran Khan, while he was still in office, claimed that the opposition’s no-confidence motion against him was the result of a “foreign conspiracy” because of his external policy and funds were channeled from abroad to oust him.
Later, PTI leaders told journalists that they based their claim on a cable that former Pakistani ambassador in Washington sent to Islamabad on March 7, detailing the conspiracy. The cable included details of Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan’s meeting with Mr Lu at the Pakistan Embassy.
Dawn learned from diplomatic sources that the conversation mentioned in the cable happened at a farewell lunch by the outgoing ambassador and that the cable did not say anything about a conspiracy. Mr Lu, however, did convey the Biden administration’s ‘unhappiness’ over former PM’s visit to Moscow on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.
Mr Lu also said that this ‘unhappiness’ would continue as long as Imran Khan was in power. During the long conversation, Mr Lu also asked questions about the no-confidence movement against the PTI government as this was all over the media.
When Dawn contacted the US State Department for comments on Mr Riar’s reported contact with Mr Lu, a spokesperson said: “As a standard practice, we do not comment on private diplomatic meetings.”
On Imran Khan’s claim on the US involvement in toppling him, the spokesperson said: “As we have said before, there is no truth to these allegations.”
PTI sources in the US also refused to discuss the reported contact, while Mr Riar did not return calls or respond to messages.
Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022
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Comments (69) Closed
Jul 04, 2022 10:05am
Pti had nothing to show what they did in the last 3.8 years so they are hiding behind this conspiracy drama.we are in this mess because of them.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:05am
"WASHINGTON: The US State Department on Sunday reiterated its stance that there’s no truth to the claims that Washington was involved in a conspiracy to bring down the PTI government."
What you expect from US? to confirm they were involved?
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Jul 04, 2022 10:13am
All hypothesis. Why don't government do a judicial investigation to settle this once and for all. And punish the ones who made mess out of this, either Imran Khan, Zardari, Shahbaz or establishment. SC can not behave like a passer by on this.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:16am
The horse has bolted now the stable doors can be shut.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:16am
Niazi what ever you do now. You will never become PM of Pakistan. You had a very good chance for longevity but your foolishness and greed got better of everything.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:19am
Since when does a conspirator admit to conspiracy?
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Jul 04, 2022 10:20am
IK is the greatest propagandist since Goebbels.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:20am
Mr Lu also said that this ‘unhappiness’ would continue as long as Imran Khan was in power. During the long conversation, Mr Lu also asked questions about the no-confidence movement against the PTI government as this was all over the media.
Wrong, No Confidence wasn't even filed yet...
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Jul 04, 2022 10:40am
@Anwar, one understand the fear and unease his popularity is causing among followers of cheat n deceit! Wake up
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Jul 04, 2022 10:42am
If the PM of a country, it’s foreign office and the Ambassador in Washington DC claim to have unearthed the conspiracy behind the toppling of the Govt I’m Pakistan, it’s only fair to ask for clarification, judicial commission or a statement from the State Dept.
If US & Pakistan are to move forward bilaterally, Pakistani Americans and the citizens of Pakistan deserve to know the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.
We need to build bridges, not burn them.
@imranigra New York
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Jul 04, 2022 10:43am
How bizarre is that for PTI to contact US official.
Misery and utter frustration.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:46am
The US has never undertaken regime change in any part of the world.
The US never used nuclear weapons.
The US has never invaded any county.
US does not have any military bases outside the US; What appears to be military bases are humanitarian aid stations to help eliminate hunger and famine
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Jul 04, 2022 10:46am
US has a track record of attempting regime changes, over 100 years.
History-sheeter's statements are suspect at the best.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:47am
@M. Emad, Although it wasn’t filed but it was already announced and was all over the media. It was no secret that opposition was gathering support for a no confidence many weeks before it was filed.
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Jul 04, 2022 10:50am
@Usman, Don't let your hatred blind you into forgetting the handling of COVID
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Jul 04, 2022 11:02am
One fails to understand what else is 'conspiracy',
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Jul 04, 2022 11:06am
They will disclose it after several years
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Jul 04, 2022 11:13am
What a shame and disgrace for the country!
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Jul 04, 2022 11:14am
@M. Emad, And you think those foolishly accused should not deny. Imran can lie and US should not deny?
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Jul 04, 2022 11:14am
Ik is mently unstable, he can harm the country to take revenge.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:17am
USA is exactly famous for speaking the truth
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Jul 04, 2022 11:17am
@Usman, and your beloved corrupt government has something to show what they did for the the past decades?
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Jul 04, 2022 11:26am
History of USA is full of such conspiracies and regime changes, no doubt they were involved this time too.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:34am
@M. Emad, In a recent report, the WHO estimated there were 2,60,000 COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan — eight times the official figure. Official records state Pakistan had 30,369 COVID-19 deaths with over 1.5 million infections.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:34am
Donal Lu will never forget Imran Khan and revenge is on the cards, no matter what the diplomatic teams of PTI attempt, damage is done.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:36am
USA, the most unreliable ally ever in the last hundred years.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:43am
Who to trust, why not judicial commission?? Foreign conspiracy is a truth unless proven wrong.
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Jul 04, 2022 11:54am
Thieves never admit about their theft, their past records proved , they are habitual of doing such things . We can’t put all the blame on them , major role was played by local handlers . By selecting corrupts for regime change , they add insult to the injury , this is indigestible for the people
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Jul 04, 2022 12:00pm
@Usman, PTI formance can be compared with last 3 months performance of the imported regime. Country is worse place than what it was 3 months ago .
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Jul 04, 2022 12:02pm
@Sam, Good joke
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Jul 04, 2022 12:13pm
US always did the same even bulldozing governments in South America and Middle East.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:14pm
The neutrals send Khan home. Nothing to do with US.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:15pm
Sorry, the evidence or the deliberate lack of it, says otherwise.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:18pm
@M. Emad, wirh such low testing done by the govt people kept on dying and we all know very well how badly it was handelled.Also for economy dont forget they dint pay loans in those 2 years but kept on taking more loans continously.pti is a group of incompetent people.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:19pm
Americans are hypocrites and losers - they are liars and are beaten badly in Ukraine and that is itching them more and more as the Russians are making progress - they start a war and then deny. They corrupt Pakistani politicians and then manipulate things
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Jul 04, 2022 12:30pm
Imran now asking for NRO from a junior secretary in US.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:50pm
of course they will deny but they were involved
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Jul 04, 2022 12:51pm
Just because the actual word “conspiracy” wasn’t used during the meeting, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Gosh how dumb can people be.
The statements made by Mr Donald Lu clearly indicate a foreign hand in Pakistan politics.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:51pm
Corrupt people, corrupt leaders. Pakistanis sadly do not see corruption as an issue, they have become morally corrupt, what can you really expect from an uneducated and illiterate people.
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Jul 04, 2022 12:52pm
Imran khan is honest leader and he needs our support.
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Jul 04, 2022 01:01pm
@Maria Junejo, As If Nawas Sharif, Zadari and the rest of Mafia did not get any chance.
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Jul 04, 2022 01:11pm
@Malik, I agree
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Jul 04, 2022 01:11pm
I agree
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Jul 04, 2022 01:39pm
It seems that this news item confirms the conspiracy theory. First, Mr. Lu did not make the good relations between Pakistan and the USA conditional on the policies of Pakistan but dependent on the removal of IK. Secondly, he talked about the vote of confidence before it was tabled. Even if the meeting is confirmed, it is not sure whether Mr. Rias was meeting on the behest of PTI or in a personal capacity.
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Jul 04, 2022 01:49pm
Imran Khan for US was not important as Saddam Hussain of Iraq and Col Qaddafi of Libya, neither Imran Khan was a security risk for Washington DC.
People in Pakistan do not analyse the political statement of any political leader including Imran Khan and this is the fact that whatever Imran Khan says he is right.
With the passage of time Imran Khan's followers will come to know the truth but by then it will be too late for his followers.
Imran Khan will never ever become PM of Pakistan again.
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Jul 04, 2022 01:53pm
As usual, the USA did conspire against the PTI government.
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Jul 04, 2022 02:00pm
Liar, liar, house on fire.
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Jul 04, 2022 02:00pm
@USman you must be blinded not to see the record breaking progress PTI has made in the shortest time since gaining independence.
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Jul 04, 2022 02:08pm
@ILYAS KHAN, logic
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Jul 04, 2022 02:10pm
USA is the biggest and proven liar in the world
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Jul 04, 2022 02:56pm
If the allegations were true, would the state department say, yes we did conspire to change the regime in Pakistan? It is just childish to use their statements as an argument. The SC should make a judicial inquiry to find out the facts behind these allegations.
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Jul 04, 2022 03:02pm
@Usman, One has to be insane to say what you wrote. The PTI government added 17 bn USD to your annual dollar earnings and that is much more than what the last two governments did in 10 years combindely. Despite COVID and super commodity price circle, it achieved near to 6% growth in two consective years, created more jobs per year than the last two governments and added more to our revenue collection then the PPP and MLN did.
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Jul 04, 2022 03:19pm
The fact is, for the last 65 years our establishment has followed instructions from the US establishment before installing a marshel law or a political governemnt. So now the Americans do not consider it a conspiracy but rather a divine right to act as a stakeholder and to advise our generals on the matter.
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Jul 04, 2022 03:20pm
@Usman, yet we wil have seen what pdm and looters have down in 8 weeks, its all clear to see
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Jul 04, 2022 03:26pm
order an open judicial commision and expose IKs claims. that's the only way forward.
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Jul 04, 2022 03:27pm
The best defense is deny deny, as the corrupts rulers of Pakistan have been doing
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Jul 04, 2022 03:44pm
One more IK-PTI barefaced lie resoundingly exposed. This man should be ashamed and must forever stop talking of holy Riyasats.
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Jul 04, 2022 04:16pm
@Usman, wat about 2 consecutive years of around 6% growth?
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Jul 04, 2022 04:50pm
But for America, Pakistan would have been a rich country similar to nations of Western Europe.
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Jul 04, 2022 05:01pm
@ILYAS KHAN, we know they endorsed the disclosure of NSC meeting . That mentioned blatant interference in the internal matters of Pakistan for that a demarche was issued . What else we we want from US . They agreed for blatant interference . The second point why that cypher was not sent sent to foreign minister but to someone else, whom Biden administration addressing
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Jul 04, 2022 05:39pm
Conspiracy theories are lifeline of Pakistan. So no matter what the truth is.
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Jul 04, 2022 06:02pm
PMLN trolls actively trying to sling mud
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Jul 04, 2022 06:16pm
IKN after wrecking internal affairs of the country, he single handedly ruined our foreign policy .
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Jul 04, 2022 06:30pm
USA told every country that said it was Independent in the Russian invasion that they disagreed with their position. You don't see any of them saying that the USA tried to overthrow the govt. USA dislike for IK has always been obvious and they haven't been bashful about it - that makes then honest not deceitful.
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Jul 04, 2022 06:43pm
Expecting them(US) to change their narrative? Lmao
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Jul 04, 2022 06:46pm
So why hasn't IK come forth with real evidence? Where is any evidence of these alleged bribes. And when does criticism of IK become a conspiracy to overthrow him. USA has never like IK for good reason - he's been spouting anti American blather for over a decade.
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Jul 04, 2022 06:50pm
@Maria Junejo, keep dreaming the masses are with IK and this upcoming election he will win big the opposition came into power by buying the back benches of PTI haven't seen horse trading anywhere else except in this banana republican of Pakistan
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Jul 05, 2022 12:09am
@M. Emad, But it was being discussed for a long time before it was filed.
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Jul 05, 2022 06:30pm
This conspiracy nonsense is hurting Pak US relations unnecessarily. This is one thing I disagree with Imran.
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