Untold story of US intel, military advice and Imran’s Russia trip

ISLAMABAD: New details have emerged about the behind-the-scene discussions before former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia in February 2022. Official accounts and insider disclosures reveal that despite receiving Intel from the United States about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pakistan’s leadership dismissed the concerns. Three years later, the trip remains a key reference point in Pakistan’s political discourse and its diplomatic stance on global conflicts.

A few days before former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia, Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yousaf received a call from US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Sullivan shared important Intel about Russia’s plan, but Pakistan rejected it. Moeed called the US Intel unreliable and questioned if it was as false as the claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which later proved wrong. The Pakistani side cast doubt on US intelligence about Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine. Background briefings, discussions, and interviews with Pakistani officials reveal this information.

At a time when international media was predicting that Russia could attack Ukraine anytime, Imran Khan’s decision to visit Russia raised questions. This correspondent contacted government officials, former ministers, and security officials to find out if the military establishment or the foreign office had advised him against making the trip.

A well-placed source informed that prime minister Imran Khan asked the then-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for advice on whether to visit Russia and about Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine. “The military establishment agreed with Khan’s visit and told him they had no credible information about a Russian attack on Ukraine,” the source said.

A source said Pakistan had intelligence that Russia had sent forward troops to Ukraine, but there was no evidence of logistical support behind them. “This suggests that Russia was not planning to invade Ukraine so soon, as an actual attack would require logistic movement,” the source explained. “In military terms, this move could be seen as a threat but not an actual attack. Based on Russia’s military planning, the Pakistani side was confident that an invasion was not imminent, and there was no harm in Imran Khan’s visit at that time,” the source added.

Apart from Pakistani intelligence, Imran Khan’s team received a call from the United States, suggesting that Russia would invade Ukraine. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Moeed Yousaf and asked, “Is your prime minister going to visit Russia?” Moeed replied, “Yes.” After that, Sullivan shared the intelligence about Russia’s plans, but Pakistani officials rejected the caution.

Sources further informed that despite ignoring US intelligence, Russia attacked Ukraine soon after Imran Khan arrived, putting him and his delegation in a difficult situation. They had to decide whether to continue the visit or shorten it after meeting President Putin. “Moeed Yousaf suggested to Khan to shorten the trip as it was an embarrassing situation for the delegation,” the source said. “However, other members of the delegation insisted on completing the visit as planned,” the source added.

US President Donald Trump’s remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have sparked debate in Pakistan too. In order to stay relevant in the Russia-Ukraine context, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims Imran Khan was right about Russia. The PTI leaders accuse former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa of betraying Khan over his policies on Russia.

To cover up the embarrassment from his Russia visit, Imran Khan claimed that he had signed a deal to import cheap oil and was punished for siding with Russia. However, sources said, “There was no oil import agreement with Russia, and the military never advised Khan against the visit.” The source added, “In fact, the top military leadership supported Khan’s trip.”

The News sent a detailed questionnaire to Dr. Moeed Yusuf, but he did not respond.