The US President’s adviser on art, Shahid Ahmed Khan, has stated that the United States has no involvement in Pakistan’s internal politics, clarifying that the US senators’ recent letter on human rights was a general letter and not specifically aimed at Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to The News International, he emphasized that Pakistan remains a crucial nation for the US and refuted claims that Pakistan’s relations with China have caused President Biden to ignore them.
Khan further emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s problems and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the US. He stated that the US will benefit if infrastructure is built in Pakistan, whether by American companies or by China. To aid Pakistan in its CPEC endeavors, the US has established a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cell.
Expressing concerns about Pakistan’s deteriorating relations with countries and institutions where its interests are interconnected, Khan mentioned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was dissatisfied with the local leadership in Pakistan. He highlighted the IMF’s disappointment with the lack of implementation of agreements made during the previous government’s tenure.
Regarding the cypher drama involving Imran Khan, Shahid Ahmed Khan explained that a cypher is a secret document that ambassadors send to their home countries. He revealed that American diplomats did not discuss the issue with the Pakistani government. He also mentioned that the majority of Pakistanis residing in the US are not interested in American politics.
The cypher controversy emerged when Imran Khan alleged that the US orchestrated a plan to remove him from office. He presented the cypher at a rally in March 2022 to support his claims, but the US has consistently denied allegations of such involvement.
As the article draws to a close, it highlights Imran Khan’s response to the revival of the cypher controversy, claiming that it is an attempt by the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government to disqualify him from contesting elections. Imran accuses Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and others of plotting against him.
This article presents an overview of Shahid Ahmed Khan’s statements on US-Pakistan relations and the cypher controversy, focusing on the importance of Pakistan to the US and the need for infrastructure development. The perspectives of both Imran Khan and the ruling coalition, as well as the denial of US involvement, have been included to provide a balanced view of the situation.
