689.90D/10–854
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Pakistan—Afghanistan Affairs (Thacher)1
Subject:
- Afghan Problems
Participants:
- Prince Naim, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan
- NEA—Mr. Byroade
- Mr. M. Kabir Ludin, Ambassador of Afghanistan
- SOA—Mr. Thacher
Prince Naim declared that Afghanistan was beset by deep anxiety and a lack of hope. The Afghans have earnestly attempted to reach a settlement with Pakistan on the Pushtunistan question with which so much of importance to them is linked. Prince Naim said he was deeply troubled by recent intensification of USSR interest in Afghanistan, the direct result of the Turkey–Pakistan pact2 and the U.S. decision to give military aid to Pakistan. Afghanistan is aware of the growing power of India and the possible threat this poses to the security of neighboring nations.
Naim discussed his hope for “greater unity” of Pakistan and Afghanistan which if achieved could make it possible for the United States to contribute to a security system in this area without creating apprehension in the minds of any of its friends. Meanwhile Afghanistan desperately requires the means to deal with its own problems of internal security. It needs arms and the facilities for training officers. The safety of Afghanistan is in the final analysis, the safety of the whole Indian subcontinent, and in spite of the friendly face presented by their neighbors to the north Afghans are deeply apprehensive of Russian pressure. Touching on economic matters Prince Naim urged the need for short-term development projects which if promptly [Page 1422] accomplished would be an antidote to the despair and hopelessness now prevalent.
Mr. Byroade described our deep concern with the entire Middle East situation. Our goal is to provide military and particularly moral strength for the countries in the Middle East. The USSR could of course send its military forces into the area practically without opposition. However, U.S. military assistance to these countries should make clear to the Russians that they could not take the area without a general war. Next steps in this direction would perhaps be for Iran and Iraq to join Turkey and Pakistan in development of a defense system. Probably it would be better for Afghanistan to allow this system to gather some strength before joining it. We realize Afghanistan’s need for military equipment but when, in the nature of things, we have to move so slowly, would it be wise to promise Afghanistan military aid which might not reach its destination for some time after our intention to send aid was known throughout the world? Thus we are trying to think of other means of assisting Afghanistan.
Mr. Byroade compared the Pushtunistan question to the problem of the Saar in Europe. The Saar problem can perhaps be resolved only in some greater scheme for European unity. Could Pushtunistan be settled in the context of a plan for closer unity of Pakistan and Afghanistan? Settlement of the Pushtunistan problem seems to block so many things including Afghanistan’s adherence to a program for area defense. At present Pakistan is preoccupied by a number of domestic difficulties, but we would be glad to do what we can to promote some steps toward unity of the two countries although we do not believe much would be gained from formal negotiations. Mr. Byroade asked if any hopeful signs had become evident in recent Pakistan-Afghanistan discussions.
Prince Naim said that Afghanistan’s security was important to all Muslim nations and that he was deeply aware that security could only be achieved in union with others. In spite of his best efforts, however, he could not succeed in downing Pakistan’s suspicions. Afghanistan desired only a just settlement without loss or gain to anyone. Pakistan could not be made to believe this. Mr. Byroade’s remark that the Pakistanis felt that they have a good legal case brought a brief but emphatic historical argument for Pushtunistan from Ambassador Ludin. Mr. Byroade informed the Afghans that we had made clear to Pakistan our military aid was not for use in their arguments with their neighbors and that in fact we believe this aid creates a desire within Pakistan to get its difficulties with its neighbors straightened out. He promised that the problem of Afghanistan’s present position would be the subject of further careful deliberation in the Department and of discussion with the Secretary.