Office of the Historian

789.00/7–1454: Telegram

The Chargé in Afghanistan (Little) to the Department of State1

secret
Kabul, July 14,1954—10 a.m.

16. Embassy telegram 11, July 10.2 Embassy informed by usually reliable sources GOA Pushtunistan agitation and plebiscite demand [Page 1414] reported reftel now receiving active support India and probably Soviet Union. Nehru’s talks with Chou En-lai3 believed impressed GOA giving prestige and weight Indian representation.

GOI reportedly has urgently stressed following points.

1.
Afghan fear Soviet Union needless as India will ensure Soviet observance Afghan-Soviet 1921 friendship pact.4
2.
GOA must take advantage soon Indian friendship offer and presumably join Asian neutralist bloc or find herself alone since US cannot offer comparable friendship owing Pakistan alliance and India cannot be held responsible Soviet action should GOA join US-sponsored alliance.
3.
GOA should make Pushtunistan international issue (presumably UN) and not mere dispute between two Muslim powers. If so handled GOI assures Afghanistan support India, Soviet bloc and unnamed members “Asia bloc”.
Little
  1. This telegram was repeated for information to Karachi, New Delhi, London, Moscow, and Jidda.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Prime Minister Chou En-lai met with Prime Minister Nehru in New Delhi from June 26 to June 28, 1954. A text of the communiqué issued after their talks is printed in Royal Institute of International Affairs, Documents on International Affairs, 1954, pp. 313–314.↩
  4. The Afghan-Soviet Treaty of Friendship of Feb. 28, 1921 is printed in A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads Relating to India and Neighboring Countries, vol. xiii, pp. cxcvii–cxcix.↩