Sanctity of cypher communication

Diplomacy is the reign of words: words can be spoken, declaimed, read, or written, but also omitted in a significant silence; moreover, diplomats also move, act, and react while interacting, and their body language conveys or conceals meaning and messages. Each form of communication has its own associated conventions, protocols, patterns or codes which are essential to maintain the integrity and sanctity of not only the messages being conveyed, but also the concerned diplomats and the states they represent. It is therefore essential that in all forms of diplomatic communications, these standard procedures and protocols are strictly followed and practiced particularly for classified communications like cypher telegrams between the foreign ministry and missions abroad.

Communication is therefore, an essential aspect of diplomacy. It would not be wrong to say that communication is to diplomacy what blood is to the human body. Whenever communication ceases in the body of international politics or it is corrupted or misinterpreted, either inadvertently or deliberately, the process of diplomacy dies and the result is violent conflict or atrophy.

The basic aspect of diplomatic communication is the gathering and transmission of information, analysis and recommendations. For doing this, there are two important options in the diplomatic repertoire: verbal versus nonverbal and public versus private communication. The words we speak and how we deliver them can greatly influence how others perceive our message. It is therefore, important to carefully consider our words to ensure that the messages we want to convey comes across as clearly as possible. Using tact and diplomacy appropriately can lead to improved relationships with other people and are a way to build and develop mutual respect, which in turn can lead to more successful outcomes and less difficult or stressful communications.

Signalling is also essential to diplomacy, particularly couched and ambiguous signalling. In fact, there is great scope for ambiguity in diplomatic signalling. When used properly, diplomatic communication ambiguity is considered constructive and creative, leaving room for manoeuvring and negotiating. There are several reasons why ‘constructive ambiguity’ characterises − and probably always has characterised − diplomatic signalling and should be maintained. The tension between the need for clarity and the incentives for ambiguity impels diplomats to spend much time and effort on the formulation and interpretation of signals, but signalling does not necessarily imply intentionality.

Navigating challenging conversations is always difficult and conveying the essence or the stark or subtle messages contained therein is even more difficult. That is why communication system of the international society is regulated. It is thus important to adhere to the established tenants of diplomatic communication which reduces the chances of unnecessary disputes emerging and destroying bilateral relations between two states, especially when classified communications are either disclosed to the public or used to gain political mileage or build false narratives.

The increasing temptation and tendency to violate the sanctity of clarified communication, especially a Cypher Telegram is inimical to the integrity of our diplomats in missions abroad, the Foreign Office, Foreign Minister and our state leaders. Cypher, by its very nature is a secret form of communication sparingly used to convey sensitive information and content which cannot be sent in any other format due to the risk of being compromised. Cyphers range from secret to top secret to no circulation to Foreign Secretary only to Eyes only and all these categories have a detailed protocol for handling and distributing the list which cannot be violated or disregarded.

To ensure the security of a Cypher Telegram, it cannot be quoted, copied or be seen by any unauthorised person. In the Foreign Ministry and missions, there are dedicated computers for preparing cyphers and special designated areas where the contents of the cypher are coded and decoded. These areas are not accessible to any unauthorised person and have a security door resembling a bank vault with no other door, window, and Wi-Fi or any other form of electronic communication device. It therefore amazes me to see how in recent months the sanctity of this communication method has been blatantly violated to the chagrin.

There is a general belief in the saying that, “diplomats are honest people sent abroad to lie for the country.” There is nothing further from the truth then this. The effectiveness of a diplomat is determined by how much the host state trusts him. If his integrity is not impeccable in the eyes of the host government, they will not communicate to him honestly. In turn, he is duty bound to convey the message back to his government in a clear and undiluted manner and with his honest personal analysis and recommendations.

As a retired diplomat, it is a matter of deep concern to me, and I am sure the entire Foreign Service community, to see how a secret communication is being played with at the risk of compromising the integrity of not only our mission in the Washington DC, but the world over. Needless to add that foreign state leaders, foreign ministers, senior leaders and other diplomatic interlocutors will now be extremely cautious of engaging with Pakistan in an open and frank way. It will critically harm the ability of our ambassadors and other diplomats to engage and ascertain the thinking and strategies of our international partners. No foreign ministry in the world can afford to make their diplomats get dragged in the internal politics of Pakistan and caution their diplomats to be careful sharing information and talking to them in a frank, but, off the record manner.

What is worse is that our own ambassadors will be reluctant to share their honest assessments and recommendation knowing the mentality now developing in Pakistan to sensationalise normal reporting of meetings which are at times on issues of far more serious nature and critical to our national security interests. Our diplomats will be fearful to put down their own assessments of signals and subtle messages emanating from their countries of accreditation.

After the two meetings of the National Security Committee, which unanimously came to the conclusion that there was no foreign conspiracy, everyone was hoping that this insane drama and vulgar disregard of secret communications would die a natural death. Unfortunately, in a country of 240 million with an extremely low literacy, it is so easy to manipulate the simple souls who have no other concern, but to be able to live respectably and raise their children to achieve more than they did.

It is so painful to see the resurgence of populism and cult personality syndrome in Pakistan. In a fragile society, already living along fault lines of sectarian, religious, ethnic, linguistic, social and political differences, resurgence and proliferation of negative and acrimonious personality cult leaders can only be a harbinger of doom. What is worse is that there is not one, but several personality cult leaders in Pakistan, dividing and compartmentalising the country exploiting existing reconcilable differences. This trend should ring alarm bells as it is threatening to push Pakistan towards chaos and fragmentation. Unless the nation takes an urgent and conscious decision not to fall victim to negative and damaging influence of cult personality leaders, it may become too late to save our society from falling in the abyss of divisions, hatred and under development.

Hence, it is time for deep introspection to understand the political, governance, economic and social mistakes made in the last 75 years of independence by the successive leaders, bureaucracy and other stake holders that has created a sense of deprivation and betrayal in the masses which is pushing them towards the cult leaders for redemption.

The writer is a former Ambassador to China, the EU and Ireland. She covers a variety of issues including political, social, environmental, developmental, strategic and economics