689.90D/11–2451: Telegram
The Ambassador in Afghanistan (Merrell) to the Secretary of State
250. While I fully agree we shld continue to urge GOA to talk directly with GOP re their common problems (Deptel 165, November 15), I am not so sure we shld not give further consideration PriMin’s offer (Embtel 231, Nov 8). It occurs to me that GOP itself [Page 2001] might be prepared to envisage a US undertaking (in which it was made clear that support of Afghan cause not included) that Afghan–Pashtun case be given a hearing a few years from now, since by so doing GOP would remove immediate annoyance which no doubt has bearing on its dispute over Kashmir. In any case, I believe it wld strengthen PriMin’s hand in his evident attempts to chart a more moderate course if we cld give him some encouragement and at the same time bolster our primary thesis that, whatever may be the merits of Afghan–Pashtun case, at the present time we shld all present a united front against Commie aggression.
Dept pass Karachi. Sent Dept 250; rptd info Karachi 41, London unn.