WikiLeaks: Sharif asked US to provide him security

New WikiLeaks cable revealed that the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif wanted the US government to provide him personal security. However he was advised by the US embassy that besides being illegal it would be politically incorrect to do such a thing.

The WikiLeaks cable (reference no. 136305), which was released on 4 January 2008, revealed that  the Resident Security Officer (RSO) of the US Embassy in Islamabad met three representatives of Nawaz Sharif to discuss his security.

According to the cable, Sharif's representatives were told that US government security would violate several considerations.

They were advised that an indigenous security operation would be preferable for cultural understanding, political awareness, and even geographical familiarity reasons.

The RSO began by explaining the various reasons why American (or other foreign) security would be the wrong choice to make. First, legally and without appropriate guidelines, official USG security would violate several considerations. Second, hired professional commercial American security would not only complicate the anti-American politics already in play, but would create a higher target profile for the Protectee, rather than reducing it. And third, that in a foreign country, an indigenous security operation would be preferable for cultural understanding, political awareness, and even geographical familiarity reasons, providing the indigenous company is competent.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 136305

The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The Hinduand NDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.