Office of the Historian

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

Washington, April 4, 1979

SUBJECT

  • Daily Report

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

Pakistan in the Aftermath of Bhutto’s Execution: In the wake of the government’s official announcement this morning of Bhutto’s execution, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi area remains generally calm.2 Increased security precautions have been implemented without unnecessary visibility. Karachi and Peshawar are also quiet with groups of residents gathered around literate individuals reading aloud from newspaper reports of the execution. A small group throwing stones at passing cars in Lahore was quickly dispersed and the city is quiet. (C)

The government’s announcement did not mention the fate of the four others condemned with Bhutto, but our consulate in Lahore reports they were not executed pending final consideration of their mercy petitions.3 (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 18, 3/26/79–3/31/1979. Secret; Sensitive. Printed from an uninitialed copy. Carter initialed at the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
  2. On March 29, Carter made a final appeal to Zia to spare Bhutto’s life. (Message WH90848 from the White House to Islamabad and the Department of State, March 29; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 15, Pakistan: President Zia-ul-Haq, 2/78–7/79) After confirming delivery of the text of Carter’s letter to Zia’s office, Constable commented: “While I recognize that USG will, if asked, want to acknowledge that President has made further appeal, I hope we can avoid volunteering this information at this time. GOP, Bhutto’s supporters and general public are well aware of U.S. opposition to execution of Bhutto. GOP will resent this reiteration of our appeal in view of previous statements of our position, and this resentment will be unnecessarily aggravated if we now publicize it.” (Telegram 3742 from Islamabad, March 29; ibid.)↩
  3. No report from Lahore was found.↩