Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted a question for US President Joe Biden, asking “By indulging in a regime change conspiracy to remove a democratically elected PM of a country of over 220 mn people to bring in a puppet PM, do you think you have lessened or increased anti-American sentiment in Pakistan?” 

Khan lost a no-confidence motion and gave up his seat to Shehbaz Sharif, brother of three-time Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. Amid the parliamentary proceedings, Khan made accusations that the US government was trying to install a puppet government in Pakistan. 

His comments, which didn’t impact the outcome of the motion, came against the backdrop of a long relationship between Karachi and Washington, one which had recently grown sour due to the then-PM’s independent foreign policy. 

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When the US asked Khan for help in Afghanistan, which had been taken over by the Taliban, they received an emphatic no. Khan said Pakistan would be a partner “in peace, but not in war”. Since 9/11, the Pakistani PM has also been strongly against the US war on terror, a sentiment shared by those back home who feel unjustly accused or targeted for not doing enough to aid the US during its 20-year war in the landlocked nation. 

Khan also turned down a US request to access Pakistani territory and airspace to launch what they call “over-the-horizon” attacks on Islamic State targets in Afghanistan. 

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Moreover, since Biden entered the Oval Office, there were no talks between the US President and then-Russian PM, further increasing doubts about Pakistan’s rocky relationship with the US. 

Even during the Taliban control of Afghanistan, Khan’s Pakistan urged dialogue rather than taking Biden’s route and punishing them. 

With a new PM after Khan’s departure, the US has been looking to a more fruitful relationship with Karachi. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, had said to reporters, “We’ve congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his election by the Pakistani parliament, and we look forward to working with him and his government”.