Washington, 19 July, 2023 (GNP): The United States has publicly defended Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu against allegations made by the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at a conference on the future of Pakistan-US relations in Houston. The statement came nearly 15 months after Mr. Lu was accused of sending a cipher to Islamabad that agitated the nation’s politics.
Speaking at a conference on Tuesday, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Horst refuted the allegations against Mr. Lu, saying they were “categorically false.”
“We have made this clear publicly and privately,” she said while referring to several statements made by US officials in which they proclaimed impartiality in the tense political environment of Pakistan.
The high-ranking State Department official was blamed by Imran Khan for orchestrating a no-confidence vote that led to his ouster in April last year.
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The Head of the Pakistan Bureau at the US State Department, Elizabeth Horst also said Washington “does not have a position on one political candidate or party versus another.”
Furthermore, she addressed disinformation about the US role in Pakistani politics, stating “We do not let propaganda, misinformation, and disinformation get in the way of any bilateral relationship, including our valued partnership with Pakistan, and we stand ready to work with any government elected by the People of Pakistan.”
Ms. Horst highlighted the US government’s support for democratic principles, freedom of expression, and the rule of law worldwide. According to Ms. Horst, the US is writing a new chapter in history that focuses on strengthening people-to-people connections, investments, economic ties, climate initiatives, and prosperity.
Moreover, Pakistan’s US Ambassador Masood Khan, speaking at the same event organized by the International Academy of Letters, thanked the US for supporting the approval of the $3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA) between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan.
