430. Memorandum Prepared in the National Security Council1
1. Status of U.S.-Pak Relations: Foreign Secretary Shahnawaz told Ambassador Hummel yesterday that Pakistan continues to want a congressional reaffirmation of the 1959 bilateral agreement and maintains its desire for economic assistance in the form of debt rescheduling, commodity aid and project aid. The foreign secretary stressed that Islamabad rejects only the $400 million package “as presented” and linked as it was with the reaffirmation of the 1959 agreement. He emphasized that a reading of recent pronouncements as signifying the end of the Pak/U.S. security relationship would be in error. Hummel notes that this apparently is the authoritative Pakistani position and the assurance that we have “returned to square one,” as represented by the status of U.S./Pak relations prior to the $400 million package offer, promises a valuable benchmark. (Islamabad 2290, PSN 56791)2 (S)
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 26, 3/7/80–3/12/80. Secret. Carter wrote: “Zbig, C” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.↩
- In telegram 2290 from Islamabad, March 12, Hummel reported his March 11 discussion with Shahnawaz regarding Pakistan’s position on the U.S. assistance offer. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800126–0754).↩