US had reacted to IK’s cipher statement very next day

ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy had conveyed to the Foreign Office on March 28, 2022 that the statement of the-then prime minister Imran Khan in a public rally about the cipher “was not playing well in DC”.

This US reaction to Imran Khan’s statement was quick – the very next day of Imran Khan’s statement.

Sources said the US Charge d’Affaires had also requested, on the very next day of Imran Khan’s statement on cipher, that the foreign minister and foreign secretary may like to share the documents being waved about the US intervention in Pakistan with the US diplomat. It was done through a WhatsApp message sent to a senior FO official.

The Foreign Office was conveyed that the statement by prime minister Imran Khan in a public rally in Islamabad “was not playing well in DC (Washington DC)”.

On the same day (March 28, 2022) when the FO was approached by a senior US diplomat, the foreign minister and foreign secretary were informed about the US Embassy’s contact and the subsequent request. The then Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, however, directed the concerned FO officials not to share the documents with anyone.

The foreign secretary was informed on March 8, 2022 by ambassador of Pakistan in Washington about his meeting, on 07.03.2022, with the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at his residence in Washington, DC.

The ambassador conveyed to the foreign secretary sensitivity of the matter and told him he had addressed a communication in the shape of cipher telegram to the Ministry. On the same day, the foreign secretary approved the distribution of the copies of cipher telegram to all concerned, including the-then secretary to the prime minister. In his statement recorded before the FIA during Cipher case investigation, the foreign secretary had said, “On 27.03.2022, I was shocked to see on the electronic media that Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi are addressing the general public and referring letter received in his office in shape of cipher telegram for his personal and political gain without realising that the entire cipher security system of the state and secret communication method of Pakistani Mission Abroad became at stake. Moreover, Imran Khan waved the cipher telegram in the public and in his address exaggerated and twisted the facts of the cipher telegram, which subsequently resulted in the benefit of foreign states.”

He added, “On 28.03.2022, I received an internal note from Additional Secretary (Americas) about the US Cd’A’s contact with him, wherein she expressed concerns about the Imran Khan’s statements in the public rally of 27.03.2022. While forwarded this note to the foreign minister, I advised it would be prudent to continue engagement with the USA and avoid public acrimony. The purpose of this advice was to safeguard Pakistan’s ties with an important country and to prevent a politicised and public discussion on a secret and privileged communication.”