Office of the Historian

50. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, October 4, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Letter from King Zahir Concerning Pakistan-Afghanistan Controversy

PARTICIPANTS

  • The President
  • His Excellency Mohammed Hashim Maiwandwal, Ambassador of Afghanistan
  • Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs-Phillips Talbot

The Ambassador delivered a letter from King Zahir of Afghanistan in response to the President’s letter of September 17.1 He then outlined the Afghan view of the crisis between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan believes Pakistan set off the present difficulty by taking advantage of Afghan dependency on the consulates and trade agencies [Page 112] in Pakistan. The Ambassador admitted that there had been fault on both sides in connection with the activities of consulates, but said that steps had been taken to open discussions with Pakistan with a view to rectifying the situation. Meanwhile, Afghanistan had feared that the Ayub visit to the United States would result in a lessening of United States regard for Afghanistan. The Ambassador was in fact in Kabul during August arguing on the basis of reassurances from the President and Mr. Talbot that there had been no change in United States policy toward Afghanistan. It thus came as a surprise to the Ambassador that Pakistan suddenly levied its demand concerning the consulates and trade agencies. The Ambassador concluded by expressing his gratitude for United States interest in Afghanistan’s welfare.

The President said he thought King Zahir’s letter was a good one. He promised to see what the United States can do, and concluded by saying that Afghanistan would be hearing from the United States very shortly.

  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Afghanistan, Memoranda of Conversation, 7/61-9/62. Secret. Drafted by Gatch. According to the President’s Appointment Book, the meeting was held at the White House. (Ibid.)↩
  2. See Documents 49 and 45.↩