
Row erupts as ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou says PTI tried to pressure him into apologising for India–Pakistan war remarks
A political controversy has broken out after former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attempted to coerce him into apologising for comments he made regarding a potential India–Pakistan conflict.
Kiriakou, speaking to ANI in October, had assessed that Pakistan would “lose” a conventional war with India due to its smaller population and military capacity. His remarks triggered severe backlash in Pakistan, with the ex-spy recalling that he received heavy online abuse and numerous death threats.
Kiriakou’s blunt rejection
Kiriakou said PTI sent him a letter demanding an apology to former prime minister Imran Khan, the party leadership and “the people of Pakistan.”
The former intelligence officer responded with an intentionally crude rejection, writing that he would use their letter as “toilet paper.”
Recounting the exchange on a YouTube podcast hosted by Julian Dorey and uploaded on November 18, Kiriakou said:
“In a conventional conflict, India would beat Pakistan… The death threats—I’ve lost count.”
PTI’s letter and leadership
According to him, the apology demand came from the PTI president. The party is currently led by Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, who took over the position in March 2023.
Kiriakou claimed his lawyer advised him to stay low and monitor his surroundings following the threats. Despite the warnings, he mailed back an unfiltered response:
“I wipe my a** with your demands for an apology.”
He has not received any reply from PTI since.
Kiriakou’s background
John Kiriakou served 15 years in the CIA, playing a key role in counterterror operations after 9/11, including leading the 2002 raid that captured top Al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah.
In 2007, he turned whistleblower by exposing the CIA’s torture programme in a TV interview. He was later jailed for 23 months. After his release, he said he had “no regrets, no remorse.”
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