Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia at the USState Department Donald Lu skipped the question when asked about theregime change conspiracy in Pakistan.
The State Department official, during his visit to India, was engagedfor an interview by the Hindustan Times and was questioned for hisconversation with Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington saying thatPakistan would face difficulties in case Prime Minister Imran Khansurvived the no-confidence motion.
�Imran Khan seems to suggest that you had a conversation with thePakistani ambassador in the US and told him that if Imran Khansurvives the no-confidence motion, Pakistan is in trouble and the USwon�t forgive Pakistan. Any response?,� the interviewer asked.
In response, Donald Lu, who is considered the author of the officialcommunication to Pakistan, avoided direct reply and said, �We arefollowing developments in Pakistan, and we respect and supportPakistan�s constitutional process and the rule of law.�
Asked whether he had such conversation, the US official skipped thequestion again to say, �That�s all I have for you on that question.�
On March 27, Prime Minister Imran Khan had told a public gathering inIslamabad that his government had received an official communicationfrom a foreign country, seeking his ouster else Pakistan would be introuble.
Other than Donald Lu, US State Department Spokesman Ned Price alsoresponded the same question in a similar way.
�Well, we are closely following developments in Pakistan, and werespect (and) we support Pakistan�s constitutional process and therule of law,� the spokesman said in reply to a question at his dailypress briefing.
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The same question was asked at the White House press briefing, andCommunications Director Kate Bedingfield, said, �There is absolutelyno truth to that allegation.�
The threatening communication was also discussed at the 37th meetingof the National Security Committee, which expressed grave concern atthe communication, terming the language used by the foreign officialundiplomatic.
The committee also termed it a blatant interference in the internalaffairs of Pakistan, which was unacceptable under any circumstances.
Pakistan also handed over a demarche to the US diplomat to convey itsconcerns through diplomatic channels.
Prime Minister Imran Khan viewed that the no-confidence motionsubmitted by the opposition parties against him was also part of thesame conspiracy.
He believed that the objective behind the efforts for his ouster wasthe independent foreign policy being pursued by his government onregional and international issues.
