ISLAMABAD: Controversy surrounding secret diplomatic cable has cast a shadow on appointment of a new foreign secretary as government could not take a decision to name chief diplomat and instead made a ‘stopgap’ arrangement.

Position of foreign secretary fell vacant after incumbent Sohail Mehmood retired after reaching age of superannuation. It was earlier reported that Asad Majid, who wrote cypher in March as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington, would be appointed as new foreign secretary.

But as new audio leaks surfaced bringing once again to spotlight diplomatic cable, which former Prime Minister Imran Khan has cited as evidence of US controversy behind his removal through a vote of no-confidence earlier in year, has apparently pushed government to review its decision. A foreign office source confirmed that a consensus could not be reached on name of Asad Majid and hence it was decided to give additional charge of foreign secretary to Jauhar Saleem, a grade 22 officer of foreign service and current special secretary Europe.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 01 2022

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