277. Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State1
4220. Subject: Gov Rockefeller’s Talks With Gen. Zia.
1. Former Vice President Rockefeller told me his trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan2 was undertaken at instigation of Shah of Iran, who had urged this gesture of U.S. support to both countries. Shah had reiterated his oft-stated belief that govts in both countries were dangerously fragile and that USG was doing too little to shore them up. Pak Amb in Washington promptly picked up a cue from Rockefeller and invited his party as guests of Gen. Zia.3
2. I had chance to sit in on about one-third of Zia’s meetings with the Gov, but Gov had chance to give me highlights of Zia’s statements.4
3. Zia’s motive was to convey sense of problems Pakistan faces, and to elicit sympathy and support of USG. He spent much time in criticism of Bhutto who had primary responsibility for present economic ills and for much of political problems in Pakistan. His crippling and harassment of private sector, particularly industries, had caused disastrous uncertainties that slowed investments and renovations of [Page 664] aging plants. Then nationalizations and forced employment of Bhutto’s party supporters as supernumeraries further damaged efficiency, particularly in export-oriented textile industry.
4. Zia said he had “proof” that Bhutto had gone through Libyans to Sovs with offer of close cooperation last June, and Zia asserted this was one of reasons he had moved to take over govt July 5. (Comment: As I told Rockefeller, we know Bhutto had received offers of Soviet cooperation directly from Sov Amb here, but we doubt (a) that Bhutto was seriously considering a Soviet option or (b) that this was proximate cause of Zia’s coup. End comment)
5. Zia said he thought elections would be held next April. On Bhutto trial, he said that whatever Supreme Court decided about Bhutto’s appeal, there would be some internal disturbances after that decision (Comment: Decision could be in July) but any troubles would be contained and would be over in a month. Zia thus left ambiguous his intentions concerning executive clemency.
6. Gov Rockefeller emphasized genuine and longstanding American friendship and desire to be helpful to Pakistan, and U.S. desire for stability and development in the area.
7. Zia touched on nuclear reprocessing plant only lightly, complaining that GOP had offered to renounce the plant if USG could achieve dismantling of Indian reprocessing plant and Indian adherence to full-scope safeguards. Zia said that he had not had an answer to this proposal. (Comment: I was not present during that exchange, so had no chance to comment to Gen Zia. I told Gov Rockefeller that GOP had made some noises about accepting full-scope safeguards if Indians did, but had not offered to renounce reprocessing plant; we had explained to GOP, and the situation in India had shown, that full-scope safeguards in India (if achieved at all) would be result of lengthy process of dialog with India.)
8. As Department and others already know, Gov’s party got as far as Peshawar but after coup in Kabul cancelled plans to drive there. Zia strongly and personally urged Gov to return through Islamabad on his way to India, and they had one-hour talk which I attended during refuelling stop. Zia’s purpose was to express concern at events in Kabul, and he asserted that USG had not done all it should to give assistance, both economic and in military training, to Daoud government.
9. Comment: Zia projected his usual image of sincerity and simplicity. He obviously enjoyed the opportunity to speak his mind to an influential and sympathetic American.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780185–0152. Secret; Exdis. Sent for information to New Delhi and Tehran.↩
- In telegram 75091 to multiple posts, March 23, the Department informed posts of Rockefeller’s itinerary, which included stops in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Iran. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780128–1001) According to telegram 2476 from Kabul, April 3, Rockefeller was scheduled to meet Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan on April 29, a day after the coup in Kabul. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780143–0370) In telegram 7071 from New Delhi, May 4, the Embassy reported that Rockefeller also met with Desai on May 4 in New Delhi. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780191–0043)↩
- Telegram 2367 from Islamabad, March 8, indicated that Hummel learned of Rockefeller’s visit through Yaqub Khan. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780105–1078)↩
- Rockefeller’s visit to Pakistan was scheduled for “about April 24–26.” (Ibid.)↩