400. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance1

SUBJECT

  • Presidential Decisions on Pakistan, Afghanistan and India (S)

The following decisions were made by the President as a result of the PRC Meeting of December 272 and the NSC Meeting of December 283 and should be implemented:

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

Pakistan

1. We are prepared to send a high-level mission to Pakistan, headed by Deputy Secretary Christopher, to consult on the new situation in the region.

2. Military sales will be resumed and facilitated.

3. We shall ask the Saudis to assist on financing military purchases by Pakistan.

4. Two GEARING-class destroyers will be provided to Pakistan expeditiously.

5. We shall move promptly in providing $40 million in PL–480 assistance.

6. Additional assistance will be provided to help Pakistan deal with the Afghan refugee problem.

7. We will reaffirm our nuclear policy towards Pakistan and make clear the legislative restrictions. We will, however, urge the Pakistanis to put the problem aside for solution later while we deal with the Soviet-Afghan problem. (S)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

Zbigniew Brzezinski
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Thornton Country File, Box 92, India: 6/79–6/80. Top Secret. Copies were sent to Brown and Turner. The full text of the memorandum is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XII, Afghanistan, Document 128.
  2. See Document 161.
  3. The minutes of the meeting are printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XII, Afghanistan, Document 107.