Office of the Historian

376. Telegram From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State and the Consulate in Karachi1

Islamabad, November 21, 1979, 0830Z

13177. 1. At approximately 1245 local time about 330 students, Pakistani and Iranian, from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, began a demonstration in front of the Embassy. They left briefly, but then, joined by four more busloads, returned. The compound is fairly well protected; students have breached the grounds. Local police are, however, firing shots into the air and tear gas is being used. We have asked for more police.

2. The protesters are shouting slogans against Carter and an alleged American takeover of the Qabba in Mecca.2 They have burned an Embassy vehicle. More reports later.

Hummel
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790535–0826. Unclassified; Flash.↩
  2. See Document 375.↩