445. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1
SUBJECT
- Pakistan Debt Relief (U)
Despite the very difficult points raised in the McIntyre/Owen memo,2 I strongly concur in Secretary Muskie’s recommendation for debt relief to Pakistan.3 His argumentation is compelling from the foreign policy and security points of view. Quite simply, there is nothing else left for Pakistan in our bag, until 1982 at the earliest. We have dunned the Saudis, Europeans and Japanese and it would be incredible for us to do nothing for the next sixteen months. (C)
The Muskie memo is realistic in saying that this action will not buy us much with Pakistan. Doing this minimum is, however, essential if we are going to at least stem the downward trend in our relationship. In addition, it is increasingly clear that we cannot expect continued Pakistani cooperation on issues of importance to us, especially clandestine support for the Afghan freedom fighters, unless there is a tangible sign of our support for Pakistani concerns. In effect, unless we are prepared to do at least this much, we can write off any effort to bog the Soviets down in Afghanistan. (S)
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 85, Sensitive XX: 6/1–24/80. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. In the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Zbig, J.”↩
- See Document 444.↩
- See Document 441.↩