Office of the Historian

396. Memorandum Prepared in the National Security Council1

Washington, December 28, 1979

1. Reassuring Pakistan: In response to Foreign Secretary Shahnawaz’ very pessimistic interpretation of events in Afghanistan, Ambassador Hummel recommends that Washington consider sending a quick message to the Paks to reassure them of U.S. concern and determination to prevent further Soviet expansion in this, or other, regions. Hummel urges that he be authorized to reaffirm to the highest levels of the GOP our continuing commitment to Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty, and possibly also formally request a consultation as envisaged under the 1959 bilateral. Hummel notes that such a demarche would have even greater impact if part of what he was instructed to say were cast in the form of a letter from the President to President Zia, expressing concern about the December 25–28 events in Kabul and soliciting Pakistan’s views about the meaning of these developments.2 Hummel believes we have exhausted the efficacy of oral diplomatic assurances, and that Pakistani paranoia and anxiety will rise in the absence of tangible follow-up actions which demonstrate that our interest in the security of the region is matched by a capability to respond to new threats. The ambassador also thinks that our failure to use Pakistan as one vehicle in our response to the Soviet actions in Kabul will produce a new set of pressures in Pakistan and the whole region for a further dilution to ties with a seemingly helpless U.S., and for a further accommodation with Soviet power. (Islamabad 15303 NODIS, PSN 9875)3 (S)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Subject Chron File, Box 127, Weekly National Security Report: 10–12/79. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
  2. In the left-hand margin next to this sentence, Carter wrote: “Called Zia—offered to send Warren. Pledged our support. J.” See Document 395.↩
  3. In telegram 15303 from Islamabad, December 28, Hummel reported his December 28 meeting with Shahnawaz. After describing Shahnawaz’s alarm at events in Afghanistan, Hummel made a plea and offered a draft text for a Presidential letter that would reassure Pakistan of U.S. support. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850040–2162, N800001–0001) Telegram 15303 is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XII, Afghanistan, Document 104.↩