ISLAMABAD: The US State Department has responded to recent claims by an American news organization regarding a diplomatic cipher concerning Pakistan’s leadership. While refraining from directly addressing the accuracy of the claims, the Department highlighted that the content of the alleged diplomatic message did not indicate any endorsement or opposition to a specific leader in Pakistan.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, deftly handled questions on the matter.
He said “I can’t confirm whether it is an actual Pakistani document. Regarding the reported comments, I won’t discuss private diplomatic exchanges except to say that, even if accurate, they don’t reflect the United States taking a stance on Pakistan’s leadership.”
Miller emphasized the principle of neutrality on internal leadership decisions in foreign nations, asserting that the US respects Pakistan’s sovereignty in this regard. He cited past instances of expressing concerns privately to the Pakistani government, in line with the consistent policy of addressing sensitive matters through diplomatic channels.
“We’ve expressed concerns privately to the Government of Pakistan, as well as publicly, about the then-Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow on the day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Our concern was clear,” Miller reiterated.
Moreover, Miller underlined the multifaceted collaboration between the US and Pakistan, emphasizing their strategic partnership. “We deeply value our relationship with Pakistan, including counterterrorism efforts. We’ve supported Pakistan through various forms of assistance for counterterrorism and law enforcement activities, and we’ll continue to do so,” he assured.
Turning to Pakistan’s domestic politics, Miller stressed the US’s non-interference stance. “We believe these matters are for the Pakistani people to decide. Our principle is to call for the respect of democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law in Pakistan, as we do globally,” he affirmed.
Rana Sanaullah reject the claim regarding the cipher
Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah rejected the claim on Twitter, saying that an investigation was needed to ascertain the authenticity of the information or source document. He labeled the act potentially sinister, treacherous, and seditious.
He also criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, noting that Khan had possession of the cipher but had not returned it. Sanaullah suggested that if proven guilty, Khan should be tried under the Official Secrets Act.
