453. Memorandum From Secretary of State Muskie to President Carter1
1. Meeting with Shahi: I met with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shahi this afternoon and reaffirmed that we were committed to following our policy on Afghanistan. I stated our admiration for the Islamic Conference efforts on Afghanistan and reiterated our support for Pakistan’s efforts to safeguard its independence and territorial integrity.
Shahi reported that during his talks in Europe he was pleased with the common perception of events in the region but found the European leaders reluctant to act in accordance with their assessment of the strategic implications. Shahi added that if the Islamic Commission initiative2 comes to a halt, the three-man committee will meet with the other Islamic Foreign Ministers in New York, just before the General Assembly session, to consider the possibility of a UN sponsored conference to find a solution to the crisis.
Shahi said that the Soviets have not shown any flexibility on the Afghanistan issue and seem determined to continue to support Babrak. [Page 1038] On the insurgents, Shahi reported that their morale was good, although they need anti-tank and anti-helicopter weapons and additional food. He added that there may be need for increased contributions over the longer-term for support of the nearly one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He also said that he saw no immediate threat of a full-scale Soviet invasion of Pakistan in the near future, although it remained a longer-term concern.
On Pakistan’s relationship with the US, Shahi reiterated Pakistan’s concerns about the perception of a close military relationship and repeated his government’s interest in economic assistance.
[Omitted here is material unrelated to U.S.-Pakistani relations.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 23, Evening Reports (State): 7/80. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 452.↩