Office of the Historian

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

Washington, May 11, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Information Items

Information

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

Letter to You from General Zia:2 Pakistani head of state General Zia Ul-Haq has written you expressing deep concern about the turn of events in Afghanistan and appreciation for the exchange of views he already has had through Ambassador Hummel. He states the “advent of the leftist regime in Kabul is an event of historic proportions” and describes the flavor and rhetoric of the new regime as conforming to the classic communist line. He sees it as another success for the Soviets in their grand design to extend control to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

According to the letter, the nature of the response to the new situation is still being discussed with Pakistan’s friends and allies, but he notes that, unless timely action is taken to block the Soviet “avalanche”, the oil resources of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula may be lost to the West. Zia’s foreign affairs adviser is currently in Tehran discussing strategy. Zia warns the situation for the Iranians could be as serious as it is for the Pakistanis.

In conclusion, Zia hopes that a fuller, personal exchange of views with you on the seriousness of the situation can be arranged at a convenient time.

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily Report File, Box 6, 5/11/78–5/19/78. Top Secret; Sensitive; Contains Codeword. Printed from an uninitialed copy.↩
  2. In his May 9 letter to Carter, Zia warned of the danger that the events in Afghanistan posed. He noted: “the Afghan barrier has been breached and our country lies directly in the path of the flood which rolled out of Czarist Russia in the last century and is now flowing in full force towards the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.” Zia estimated the ascent to power of new regime in Afghanistan as “an event of historic proportions. The change is of a fundamental nature which will have a profound impact on the balance of power in our region and beyond. Its consequences for Pakistan are incalculable.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 15, Pakistan: President Zia-ul-Huq, 2/78–7/79) The letter is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XII, Afghanistan, Document 16.↩