Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed concern over the leaked contents of a diplomatic cipher and called it a potential “massive crime” if proven true. The cipher, allegedly sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, reveals a meeting between US State Department officials and the Pakistani envoy. The contents of the cipher were published by a US-based news organization, The Intercept.
While The Intercept claims that the document was provided by an anonymous source in the Pakistani military, some speculate that the source may be affiliated with the PTI party itself. Only a select few officials had access to the confidential document, including the foreign minister, the prime minister, and the army chief.
The timing of the publication of the purported cipher is significant, as it coincides with the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges. When asked about the authenticity of the cipher and the alleged foreign conspiracy, PM Shehbaz stated that former ambassador Asad Majeed Khan had confirmed in National Security Committee meetings that there was no discussion of a conspiracy with US officials.
PM Shehbaz strongly dismissed Imran’s claims of a conspiracy as baseless and reiterated that his government had worked diligently to repair US-Pakistan relations, which had suffered during Imran’s tenure.
PM Shehbaz also highlighted the strain in Pakistan’s relations with other countries, mentioning Saudi Arabia specifically. He claimed that Imran’s government had taken actions that upset Saudi Arabia and demonstrated a lack of gratitude toward the country that had supported Pakistan for many years.
The leaked contents of the cipher, as reported by The Intercept, revealed US objections to Imran Khan’s foreign policy regarding the Ukraine crisis. The US officials expressed concerns about Pakistan’s “neutral” stance on the conflict and suggested that Imran’s visit to Moscow was being viewed as a decision by the Prime Minister. The alleged threat of consequences if a vote of no confidence against Imran succeeded was seen as evidence of a conspiracy by the former PM.
However, PM Shehbaz reiterated that there was no evidence of a conspiracy against Pakistan and that Imran’s allegations were simply a fabrication. He called the contents of the leaked cipher a “bunch of lies” and emphasized the need for reflecting on the potential harm caused by such claims.
The controversy surrounding the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan last year reached its peak when he brandished a letter claiming evidence of a foreign conspiracy. The cipher allegedly received from Ambassador Asad Majeed contained information about a meeting with a US official who warned of repercussions if Imran remained in office. The US has repeatedly denied any involvement in conspiring against Imran’s government.
The National Security Committee investigated the matter, and subsequent meetings confirmed that there was no evidence of a foreign conspiracy. An alleged confession of Imran’s former principal secretary surfaced earlier this year, suggesting that the narrative behind the cipher was fabricated.
Imran has since retracted his statement blaming the US for his removal from power, further undermining the credibility of the alleged conspiracy.
PM Shehbaz concluded by asserting that his government will continue to prioritize the establishment of strong relations with other countries based on mutual respect and trust.