Russia has accused the United States of interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan to “punish disobedient” Prime Minister Imran Khan for not cancelling his February visit to Russia.

These comments on Pakistan's political events were made by Russian ministry of foreign affairs Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, in a statement on Monday. It was also shared in a Facebook post.

President Arif Alvi on Sunday dissolved the National Assembly on the recommendation of Prime Minister Khan after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejected the united opposition’s no-confidence motion and termed it against Article 5 of Pakistan’s Constitution.

We do not support one political party over another: US

However, the multi-party confab challenged it in the Supreme Court and sought a no-confidence vote. Moreover, PM Imran had also called for early elections and suggested two names for the interim set-up.

“We would like to note that this was preceded by the following events,” read the Russian foreign ministry statement.

“Immediately after the announcement of the upcoming working visit of [PM] Imran Khan to Moscow on February 23-24 this year. The Americans and their Western associates began to exert rude pressure on the prime minister, demanding an ultimatum to cancel the trip. When he nevertheless came to us, US Deputy Secretary of State for South Asia D Liu called the Pakistani ambassador in Washington and demanded that the visit be immediately interrupted, which was also rejected,” it read.

PM Imran Khan blames US for impending regime change

Quoting Pakistani media, Zakharova said that on March 7 this year, in a conversation with former Pakistani ambassador to the US Asad Majid, a high-ranking American official (presumably the same D Liu) “sharply condemned” the balanced reaction of the Pakistani leadership to the events in Ukraine and made it clear that partnerships with the US “are possible only if [PM] Imran is removed from power”.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a presser admitted that the US had shared their viewpoint with Pakistan ahead of the premier’s visit to Russia and especially at a time when Kremlin started an assault on neighbouring Ukraine. Moreover, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Feb 23 said the US had communicated its position regarding Russia’s “renewed invasion of Ukraine” to Pakistan.

“The further development of the situation leaves no doubt that the United States decided to punish the ‘disobedient’ Imran Khan: a group of deputies of the same party of the prime minister ‘suddenly’ went over to the opposition and the question of a vote of no confidence in the head of government was immediately submitted to the parliament, the vote on which was scheduled for April 3rd,” Zakharova said.

No truth in ‘threat letter’ allegations: US

She alleged that it was another attempt of “shameless” US interference in the internal affairs of an independent state for its selfish purposes. “The above facts eloquently testify to this.”

The spokesperson referred to the concerns of the Iranian prime minister, who has repeatedly stated that the conspiracy against him was “inspired and financed from abroad”.

“We hope that Pakistani voters will be informed about these circumstances when they come to the elections, which should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly,” Zakharova said.

It is pertinent to mention that the US have multiple times rejected the “threat letter” allegations and reiterated its support for Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law.