Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XIX, South Asia

455. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Tarnoff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, August 8, 1980

SUBJECT

• Presidential Meetings With Foreign Leaders During the UNGA

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

President Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan: President Zia has indicated through intermediaries that he would like to meet with the President while he is in the U.S. during the first week in October.

Since Zia will be addressing the UNGA in his capacity as spokesman for the Islamic Conference, a meeting with the President would symbolize our sensitivity to Islamic views and interests. Given Pakistan’s active diplomatic role on Afghanistan and vulnerability to Soviet pressure, a meeting with Zia would demonstrate our support for Pakistan and our resolve to keep the pressure on for a Soviet withdrawal. Substantively, the President could further our dialogue on broadened security cooperation directly with Zia, unconstrained by the extreme nervousness felt in the Foreign Ministry on this subject. The Saudis and the Chinese would not understand our failure to seize this opportunity to demonstrate our solidarity with Pakistan and the Islamic world.

On the other hand, a meeting with Zia would closely follow his UNGA address in which he undoubtedly will be highly critical of our Middle East policies. Zia would also probably use a meeting to argue for greatly increased U.S. economic assistance. Finally Zia is not a popular leader, and his reception by you would raise human rights concerns, even though his military rule has been relatively benign. A businesslike office call, however, without the trappings of a state visit would be consistent with our explanations to opposition groups in Pakistan that our support for Pakistan, particularly at this time of crisis, is not linked to a particular regime.²

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Pakistan.]

Peter Tarnoff³
Executive Secretary

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Thornton Country File, Box 96, Pakistan: Zia Visit: 7–9/80. Confidential.
2. In telegram 231137 to Islamabad, August 30, the Department directed the Embassy to inform the Pakistani Government that Carter had agreed to meet with Zia. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800414–0745)
3. Seitz signed for Tarnoff.