Who Leaked Pakistan’s Cypher, The Explosive Document That Has Reignited Imran Khan's Ouster Debate?

Last Updated:May 18, 2026, 12:56 IST

The outlet claimed the source was: “an individual disillusioned with the direction of the country’s leadership.”

A fresh political storm has erupted in Pakistan after investigative outlet Drop Site published what it claims is the full classified diplomatic cypher linked to former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s allegations that the United States and Pakistan’s military establishment worked together to remove him from power in 2022.

The leak has revived one of Pakistan’s most contentious political controversies at a time when Khan remains jailed and the country continues to grapple with deep political instability. The newly published document, alongside reporting by multiple international and Pakistani outlets, has triggered renewed scrutiny over what exactly happened in the weeks before Khan lost a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

The controversy resurfaced after Drop Site published a classified Pakistani diplomatic cable allegedly sent by Pakistan’s then ambassador to Washington after a meeting with senior US officials in March 2022.

According to the leaked document, US diplomat Donald Lu expressed concern over Khan’s foreign policy positions, particularly his visit to Moscow on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The cable reportedly suggested that relations with Washington could improve if Khan was removed through a parliamentary no-confidence vote.

The publication has reignited claims long made by Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, that foreign pressure and domestic power centres coordinated to push him out.

Pakistan’s former coalition government and the military had consistently denied those allegations, calling them exaggerated or politically motivated. Washington too had repeatedly rejected claims that it engineered regime change in Pakistan.

But the latest leak has added a new dimension: the question of who inside Pakistan’s state machinery released the classified document.

What Is Pakistan’s Cypher Leak?

The document at the centre of this controversy was reportedly sent by Pakistan’s then ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed Khan, after his meeting with US State Department officials in March 2022.

The cable allegedly documented conversations in which US officials expressed frustration with Khan’s policies and hinted that ties with Pakistan would improve if he were removed from office.

For Khan’s supporters, the document became central evidence supporting claims of a “foreign conspiracy."

Pakistan’s National Security Committee later acknowledged that the language used by US officials amounted to “blatant interference," though it stopped short of endorsing Khan’s regime-change narrative.

The issue later evolved into a major legal and political battle inside Pakistan. Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were convicted in the cypher case under Pakistan’s secrecy laws before courts later suspended parts of the proceedings.

What Do The Newly Leaked Files Reveal?

The newly published version appears more complete than earlier excerpts publicly discussed by Khan or Pakistani media.

One of the clearest points in the cable is Washington’s anger over Khan’s Moscow visit in February 2022, the same day Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. According to the leaked document, senior US diplomat Donald Lu reportedly told Pakistan’s envoy that Khan’s visit had “created a dent in the relationship" between Washington and Islamabad.

The cable suggests the US viewed Pakistan’s neutrality on Ukraine as unacceptable at a moment when Washington was trying to diplomatically isolate Russia.

The most explosive line in the document is the reported statement: “If the no-confidence vote succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington." The cable further reportedly warned that otherwise “it will be tough going ahead." Critics interpret this as diplomatic coercion or pressure. Supporters of the US position may argue it was political signalling rather than a direct regime-change threat. But either way, the language suggests Washington believed a change in leadership would improve relations.

Importantly, the leak does not provide direct evidence of a formal US-led conspiracy to overthrow Khan. Instead, it strengthens the argument that strong diplomatic pressure existed during a politically volatile period in Pakistan.

Who Leaked The Files?

Drop Site has claimed that the leaked copy did not originate from Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, contrary to widespread speculation over the last two years. Instead, the outlet has claimed that the document came from within Pakistan’s military establishment itself.

According to the publication, the cypher had been distributed to several recipients inside the Pakistani state apparatus, including military officials, and copies remained in circulation through the end of 2024.

The outlet claimed the source was: “an individual disillusioned with the direction of the country’s leadership."

The report further said the redactions near the recipient list were significant because they narrowed down which offices had access to the specific copy eventually leaked. If accurate, the disclosure would suggest that elements within Pakistan’s own establishment may now be divided over the events surrounding Khan’s removal and the country’s subsequent political trajectory.

However, no official confirmation has emerged regarding the identity of the leaker, and Pakistani authorities have not publicly commented in detail on the authenticity of the newly released copy.

What Happens Next?

Imran Khan’s party is expected to use the leak to reinforce claims that his ouster was externally influenced and politically engineered.

Pakistan’s security establishment may also launch internal investigations to determine how classified diplomatic communications were leaked and who had access to the published version.

The revelation that the source may have emerged from within military circles could intensify debate over the establishment’s role in Pakistan’s politics.

The leak may also generate renewed scrutiny of US-Pakistan relations during the final months of Khan’s government, even though Washington continues to deny involvement in Pakistan’s domestic political process.

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