The US State Department has refuted claims of meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Responding to queries about a cipher text appearing on a US website, spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned that the authenticity of the document couldn’t be confirmed. Even if its contents were accurate, there’s no indication that the US has taken a stance on Pakistan’s leadership.
Miller noted that some individuals have misconstrued a US diplomat’s remarks for political gains. He clarified that while the US had privately and formally expressed concerns about certain policies of Prime Minister Imran Khan, as well as his Moscow visit during Russia’s Ukraine incident, it didn’t constitute interference in Pakistan’s leadership decisions. Miller emphasized that when the post is seen in context, it becomes apparent that the US government was expressing reservations about Khan’s policies, not advocating for specific leadership.
The spokesperson stated that he couldn’t speculate on intentions, but suggested this might be a case of misunderstanding. The American news outlet Intercept had previously reported on a cipher text allegedly sent by Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, containing a diplomatic message attributed to Asad Majeed, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia. This message supposedly followed a conversation with Donald Lowe in March 2022.
