424. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation1
PARTICIPANTS
- President Jimmy Carter
- President Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan
The President said hello Mr. President, this is Jimmy Carter.
President Zia asked if he were speaking with President Carter. Good evening sir.
The President asked if he were speaking with President Zia.
President Zia said this is Zia speaking.
The President said it was a pleasure to talk with him. How did the visit of Dr. Brzezinski go?2
President Zia said excellent; this is why he is calling the President. He is sure that Dr. Brzezinski will inform him (the President) of their [Page 976] discussions.3 They had frank, useful, and educational exchanges of views. President Zia had explained Pakistan’s threat perception. He was encouraged to see that the Brzezinski team agreed totally.
The President said that this was good news.
President Zia said that Dr. Brzezinski is a very intelligent, capable, and sincere personality. He (President Zia) was highly impressed.
The President said he was pleased and not surprised.
President Zia said he was grateful for this high powered team.
The President said good.
President Zia said there were some differences in assessment, but this was only a cursory perception. Perhaps their only real difference was that the Brzezinski team had a lack of flexibility (laughs). He (President Zia) could see that they could not deviate from their instruction.
The President said that he would get their report here. They are in Saudi Arabia, now, and will be here in a day and a half.4
President Zia said that they had told him this. He tried to put across the needs of Pakistan’s security, and the infringement of its freedom. They agreed. The overall reaction in Pakistan to the visit has been satisfactory. This is visible in press reporting today in Pakistan. On the U.S. papers, he doesn’t know.
The President said that reports here are good. He also had seen a summary of the Islamabad papers.
President Zia said he hopes they can continue the policy of detailed consultations. He looks forward to the next visit of a Brzezinski-type team. Carrying these on would be useful.
[Page 977]The President asked what success President Zia has had with other nations, in terms of securing economic and military aid.
President Zia said that unfortunately, not much. Unless there is a leader—the USA—moving, then others will not (laughs). He has had no success so far.
The President said that he saw.
President Zia said that when the President gets the report of the Brzezinski team, he will understand.
The President said he looks forward to it. He thanked President Zia for receiving the team, and that the discussions were frank.
President Zia said that it was his pleasure. He hopes to see a U.S. team again. It was educational.
The President said they should keep in close contact.
President Zia asked how he was otherwise.
The President said fine. He is faced with a multiplicity of issues. But having friends like President Zia makes it easier.
President Zia wished the President success in his next primary. He will pray for the President.
The President said he hoped that it would come true.
President Zia thanked the President, and extended his regards to Mrs. Carter.
The President concluded by extending his greetings.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President: 2/80. Secret. Carter spoke to Zia by telephone from the Oval Office. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary)↩
- See Document 423.↩
- Message WH80154 from the White House to Camp David, February 2, transmitted “a hurried report on a rough and rainy afternoon” of Brzezinski and Christopher’s February 2 meeting with Zia. The message noted, among other things: “The Paks do not wish to have us present the request for economic or military assistance at the indicated levels. The initially stated reason was that questions might be raised about the Pak nuclear program and they did not wish to quote embarrass us close quote. Subsequent conversation indicated however that the principal obstacle is the ‛token’ size of the proposed economic and military elements.” The message is stamped “1980 Feb 2 1957, David” and Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the first page. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Trip File, Box 41, Brzezinski, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, 2/1–5/80: Cables and Memos) The message repeated telegram 899 from Islamabad, February 2. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870097–0638, N800002–0615)↩
- Brzezinski and Christopher traveled to Riyadh on February 4 and met with Saudi Prince Saud. For their discussion of the U.S. aid offer to Pakistan, see Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XII, Afghanistan, Document 194. Brzezinski reported to Carter on the talks in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, including recommendations for further steps, in a February 6 memorandum, and Christopher and Brzezinski summarized their trip at a February SCC meeting; see ibid., Documents 197 and 198.↩