689.90D/4–1851: Telegram
The Ambassador in Pakistan (Warren) to the Secretary of State
972. I talked with Col. Shah1 last night immed after his return from the Jalalabad convs with Faiz Mohd ref my 942 Apr 12 to Dept rptd info Kabul 46 and London 59 and Kabul’s 312 Apr 9 and 3 to London.2 He said they did not get anywhere. The Afghans will not name an Amb nor will they call off Pooshtoonistan campaign. He rejected their suggestion that Pak agree to discuss Pooshtoonistan as condition prior to designation of Ambs. He said he is now, as he has been in past, opposed to soft policy of the PM with respect to Afghan. On the other hand he believes it wld be mistake for Paks to attempt to overthrow regime in Kabul because it wld play into hands of Russians. He said Liaquat does not appreciate that most Afghans south of Hindu Kush are fanatical Sunnis and that tribal leaders are more interested in outcome of Kashmir sitn than they are in maintenance of present Kabul regime. His prescription for sitn as between Afghan and Pak is Paks shld buy off Kabul at estimated expense of approximately one crore rupees year and that US shld [Page 1962] support arrangement by affirmative declaration on Durand line. He added that Kabul support if subsidized could not be depended upon now any more than in the past when the Brit used it between Wars, but that it is in his opinion the best immed compromise of problem as it stands. He said as Pathan he could speak with some authority because many of his tribe are now living in Aljian and this same tribe was utilized by Brit in overthrowing Amamullah regime and estab present dynasty. In response to question he said he is not interested in appointment as Amb to Kabul where his cousin is Chargé.
Dept pass London. Sent Dept 972, rptd info London 67, Kabul 48.
- This telegram was corrected by telegram 993, from Karachi, April 25, which read as follows: “Person with whom I talked April 17 was Sardar Bahadur Khan, GOP Min of Communications and not Col. Shah as reported Embtel 972, Apr 18. Bahndur Khan remarks to me based on preliminary report from Shah to GOP.” (689.90D/4–2551)↩
- Telegram 312, from Kabul, repeated as 3 to London, April 9, not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1956.↩