Office of the Historian

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

Washington, July 25, 1979

SUBJECT

  • Daily Report

Information

Pakistani Bomb: Framatome’s Director for Commercial and International Affairs, Yves Girard, made the following points to an Embassy Paris officer during a briefing on his recent visit to Pakistan:2

—Pakistani AEC Chairman Munir Khan clearly admitted Islamabad’s intention to develop a nuclear bomb. He said it was a decision made earlier by Bhutto, and is convinced the effort will succeed.

—Despite the cutoff of French reprocessing assistance, Pakistan can complete its planned reprocessing plant on its own, even if it is not as efficient.

—The bomb will be based on heavy enriched uranium produced in Pakistan’s centrifuge plant, employing technology acquired from Urenco.

—Pakistan will be able to produce weapons-grade uranium, and construct a nuclear weapon. Even if unable to come up with a militarily effective delivery system, Pakistan will be satisfied to have one nuclear explosion.

—The single motivating reason is fear of India. (S)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 21, 7/24/79–7/31/1979. Top Secret; Sensitive; Contains Codeword. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
  2. In telegram 22907 from Paris, July 18, the Embassy reported the July 11 briefing given by Yves Girard. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840130–1730)↩