Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XIX, South Asia

245. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, April 27, 1977

SUBJECT

• Bhutto’s Comments to the Military

[3 lines not declassified] the government-controlled press has surfaced reports of US aid for the opposition and government officials are making the same allegations to some diplomats.

You asked, in response to this item, whether we should officially deny these reports. For your information, yesterday our Charge called on Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi to make a demarche on the increasing frequency of anti-American statements. The Charge emphasized our hope that anti-US slogans would not become part of the Pak political scene since we do not want to see our bilateral relations suffer. The Foreign Minister replied that he wanted to make it clear that the anti-American slogans are not countenanced by anyone in authority including the Prime Minister. The Foreign Minister added that the GOP desires friendly relations with the US and if we have any differences, we can discuss them privately and amicably.²

Embassy Islamabad doubts that the demarche will completely stop anti-American allegations, but feels that it may persuade the Government of the need for caution and inhibit escalation.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 59, Pakistan: 1–12/77. Confidential. Carter initialed at the top of the memorandum.
2. In telegram 4197 from Islamabad, April 27, the Embassy reported on Constable’s démarche to Shahi. Shahi told Constable: “the government has been receiving reports for over one and one-half months of foreign money bank-rolling the PNA and the GOP has purposely not raised this with US.” Shahi added that “he had been asked by journalists if there was any truth to claims of ‛superpower’ support for the PNA. Agha Shahi said he answered the journalists that he would not express any comment. The Charge noted that such a reply must have left the journalists in doubt as to whether or not the GOP believed the charges. Agha Shahi quickly responded that the government has no evidence either way and in any case could not clear the name of one super-power without raising questions about others. He said it is not the proper time to give official views on this matter, but the GOP has not made any allegations and the MFA has not received any instructions.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770146–1346)