Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XIX, South Asia

166. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan⁰

Washington, September 13, 1962, 2:07 p.m.

498. Re Deptel 471 to Karachi.¹ Following based on uncleared memcon.

Secretary and Ambassador Ahmed met September 11 for approximately one hour. Following brief exchange on Cuban and Berlin situations and Zafrulla’s candidacy, Secretary asked whether Ambassador had received any indication of specific subjects President Ayub wished to cover in his talk with President. Ambassador replied that only specific subject mentioned so far was MAP requirements, but he assumed Ayub wished, among other matters, full survey US-Pakistan-Indian relations including MIGs and Kashmir.

Secretary then stated that perhaps best place begin in discussing US-Pak relations was US attitude toward allies vs. neutrals.

He developed at some length our view of value of alliances to participating countries. Among points made by Secretary were that:

1. Since alliances formed for specific and agreed reasons, success of alliances should be assessed by how well the alliances have fulfilled their original purpose;

2. Essentially various alliances in which we participate were formed ensure independence of members;

3. No member of our alliance system has so far lost its independ-ence;

4. Over years allies have definitely fared better than neutrals in our treatment; and

5. US did not view alliances as meaning members had to agree on all subjects, particularly those unrelated to basic agreed purposes of alliance.

Ahmed commented at length that people of Pakistan believed distinction in treatment of allies and neutrals had become blurred; they demand with increasing insistency to know what special value accrues to Pakistan as an ally. To them it appears that, in fact, India receives same essential benefits without costs and risks of being an ally. He then noted that crux of issue for Pakistan is whether ally supports Pakistan on Kashmir issue. He dwelt at some length on familiar Pakistan views on Kashmir. He repeatedly stated that a Kashmir solution was key to future stability on the subcontinent.

Secretary replied that in his view Pakistan received considerable benefits from alliances and without them would be in isolated and uncomfortable position. In addition, could critics of alliances convincingly show that Pakistan’s relations with neighbors would be better if Pakistan were not in alliance? Referring to Kashmir the Secretary remarked that US was caught in middle of problem in which we had no hand in creating. We approached subcontinent as a whole and we saw in Kashmir a problem which was diverting energies and resources of both nations from key problems of development. Pakistan is aware that we have also lost considerably in India because of our support to Pakistan. Pakistan, as well as other countries, should realize that in such matters US leverage and powers of persuasion are limited.

Time scheduled for appointment ended before Secretary could go further into our views Kashmir and other Indo-Pakistan-US problems, and it was agreed he would meet again with Ahmed before President Ayub arrived.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 790D.11/9-1362. Confidential. Drafted by Naas on September 12 and approved by Talbot. Repeated to New Delhi, Kabul, and London.
1. Telegram 471, September 7, noted that the meeting between Rusk and Ahmed scheduled for September 11 was the first in what might prove to be a series of meetings designed to explore and define basic areas of agreement and disagreement in U.S.-Pakistan relations. The immediate purpose of the meeting was to prepare for the Kennedy-Ayub talks scheduled for later in the month. (Ibid., 790D.11/9-762)