Donald Lu, the former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, concluded his diplomatic tenure on January 17, 2025, marking the end of his leadership over the bureau responsible for US-Pakistan relations since September 2021.
Lu’s tenure became notably controversial due to allegations from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who accused Lu of orchestrating his removal from office in April 2022. Khan alleged that the US diplomat played a key role in what he referred to as a “foreign conspiracy” against his government, which was ousted through a parliamentary no-confidence vote led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies.
The controversy first surfaced in March 2022 when Khan, just weeks before his removal, displayed a letter at a public rally, claiming it was a cipher from a foreign country conspiring with local political rivals. Although Khan did not reveal the details of the letter, he later accused the US of supporting the opposition’s no-confidence motion, thus orchestrating his ouster. The cipher was sent by Pakistan’s then-ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed.
Despite consistent denials from the US State Department, Lu addressed these allegations in March 2024, calling them a “lie” and “a complete falsehood” during a testimony before a Congressional panel. While PTI activists demanded Lu’s resignation, the State Department confirmed that his departure was a result of his term ending, not due to the allegations.
Lu, a career foreign service officer with over 30 years of service, holds degrees in international relations from Princeton University. Before leading the South and Central Asia bureau, he served as the US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2018-2021) and Albania (2015-2018). His career also included roles as special assistant to the US Ambassador in New Delhi (1996-1997) and political officer in Peshawar (1992-1994).
