No reality to former Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s international conspiracy claims: US

The US has as soon as once more dismissed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations that Washington orchestrated a conspiracy to oust him from energy.

US response got here days after Imran Khan mentioned he wished to fix relations with Washington if re-elected (Photo: File)

By Press Trust of India: The US has as soon as once more categorically dismissed former Pakistan premier Imran Khan’s allegations that Washington orchestrated a conspiracy to oust him from energy and reiterated its resolve to not let “propaganda, misinformation and disinformation” have an effect on bilateral ties.

The sharp response from the US got here on Wednesday, days after Khan mentioned he wished to fix relations with Washington if re-elected and not blames it for his elimination as Pakistani prime minister.

“As we’ve previously said, there has – there is not and there has never been a truth to these allegations, but I don’t have anything additional to offer,” US State Department’s Vedant Patel mentioned throughout a press briefing, when requested to touch upon the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief’s obvious U-turn on the alleged conspiracy claims.

Khan, 70, who was ousted in April in a no-confidence vote, had been claiming that he was the results of a conspiracy between prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and the US, a high safety companion to Pakistan that has offered the nation with billions of {dollars} in army support.

In a current interview with the Financial Times newspaper following an assassination try this month on November 3, Khan mentioned he not “blamed” the US and needs a “dignified” relationship if re-elected.

“As far as I’m concerned it’s over, it’s behind me,” he instructed the British monetary newspaper.

Khan has repeatedly claimed that Donald Lu, the highest official coping with South Asia within the US State Department, was concerned within the ‘foreign conspiracy’ to topple his authorities.

Read | Not true: US rejects ‘international conspiracy’ claims to topple Imran Khan govt

During Wednesday’s press briefing, Patel emphasised the US seen a affluent and democratic Pakistan as important to Washington’s pursuits.

“And we don’t have a position on one political candidate of a party versus another. We support peaceful upholding of democratic, constitutional, and legal principles,” Patel mentioned.

“Ultimately, we will not let propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation get in the way of any bilateral relationship, including our valued bilateral partner with Pakistan,” the Indian-origin spokesperson added.

On Wednesday, Khan, in one other interview with France 24 information channel, mentioned he had by no means backtracked from his claims of the international conspiracy that led to the toppling of his authorities.

In the most recent interview, Khan mentioned he had a cipher during which Lu instructed the Pakistan ambassador in Washington, Asad Majeed Khan, that there can be penalties if he was not ousted via the no-confidence vote.

“So, that’s exactly what I said. I never backtracked on this. The cipher exists. It was put in front of the cabinet. It was put in front of the National Security [Committee]. It is now with the chief justice where we wanted him to hold an independent inquiry,” Khan mentioned.

The former cricketer-turned politician had been claiming that the Opposition’s no-confidence movement towards him in April this yr was the results of a international conspiracy due to his impartial international coverage on Islamabad’s ties with international locations like China and Russia and funds have been being channelled from overseas to oust him from energy.

Critics accuse Khan of additional jeopardising the nation’s financial outlook by damaging relations with the US, IMF and different worldwide companions on whom cash-strapped Pakistan relies upon for financing.

Read | Imran Khan 2.0: What precisely is occurring in Pakistan?

Published On:

Nov 18, 2022