Approved distribution of cipher telegram's copy with instructions: ex-Foreign Secretary

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Former Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, according to the written copy of his statement recorded in the cipher case, said that he had made a telephonic contact with the Pakistan ambassador in Washington in March 2002.

He stated: "The ambassador told me about his meeting with the US Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, saying that he had sent the cipher telegram to the Foreign Ministry with regard to the conversation. I approved the distribution of the copy of the cipher telegram with instructions."

The foreign secretary told the court that the Deputy Head of Mission and the Defence attache were also present in his meeting with the ambassador. "I received the copy of the cipher telegram in my office and categorize it for its non-circulation, marking it 'Only for Foreign Secretary'. I instructed the SPM to send the copy in a sealed envelope," he narrated.

He said that the former prime minister waved the letter in a public meeting on March 27, 2022. "On March 28, I received an internal note from the US additional secretary. The note stated that the US authorities have expressed concern over the former PM's statement. I sent the note to the then foreign ministry, saying that it will be wisdom to stay connected with the US. The purpose of my advice was to protect the Pak-US ties and avoid the discussion of the secret communication at the public level," he stated.

Sohail Mahmood said that the Cipher Security Guidelines allow the cipher telegram to be shared only with the authorized persons. "There is no example of the declassification of the cipher telegram in the past. I also told that the cipher declassification will affect the working of the diplomatic mission as well as it may affect Pakistan's relations with the US and other countries. After the meeting, it was decided to give a briefing on the authenticity and salient features of the cipher in the in-camera session of the parliament. Meanwhile, I retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 29, 2022 and by that time the copy of the cipher from the SPM was not received back by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he disclosed.