Office of the Historian

299. Memorandum of Conversation1 2

Washington, August 30, 1972, 11:10–11:30 a.m.

SUBJECT:

  • Courtesy Call of Pakistani Ambassador Participants:

Participants:

  • Department of Defense
    • Secretary of Defense—Melvin R. Laird
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA)—G. Warren Nutter
    • Military Assistant to the Secretary—Col. Robert C. Taylor
    • Country Director for South Asia (ISA/MESA)—LTC Woolf P. Gross
  • Embassy of Pakistan
    • Ambassador—Sultan Mohammad Khan
    • Military Attache—Col. Khan Ahmad Shamshad

1. Nonsubstantive Issues

In response to a query by Mr. Laird concerning the recent Chinese veto of Bangladesh entry into the UN, the Ambassador outlined his country’s viewpoint on the matter and the effects of the veto on South Asian affairs. He indicated that Pakistan and initially, he believed, India preferred postponement of the Bangladesh entry issue rather than the confrontation that developed. It appeared that the matter emerged in the Security Council debate as another indication of the Sino-Soviet rivalry. The Ambassador volunteered that Pakistan remained committed in principle to recognition of Bangladesh as implied at the Simla Conference, but that Sheikh Mujib’s intransigence was impeding progress in that direction. He mentioned their concern over the plight of the 90,000 POW’s still being held in India and opined that India continued to hold them in defiance of the Geneva Convention and world opinion as a pressure tactic.

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2. U.S. Military Supply Policy

Secretary Laird led into the subject of military supply with a question concerning Pakistan’s current defense posture. The Ambassador pointed out that Pakistan had lost a great deal of equipment along with the 3 1/2 divisions taken captive in East Pakistan. This had not been replaced. Its loss was compounded by Pakistan’s current inability to maintain its residual U.S.-source military inventory due to the embargo.

Ambassador Sultan briefly reviewed the programs stalled by the embargo making particular mention of the “one-time exception” sale offer of October 1970 covering four categories of lethal equipment. His reference to “B–52 bombers” as part of the package was quickly corrected to B–57’s by the U.S. participants. Mr. Laird took note of the difficulties for Pakistan portrayed by the Ambassador, but asked that Islamabad not press US for the time being. The Ambassador gave his assurance that Pakistan would not ask for renewed arms assistance now, adding that he hoped we could take another look at their requirements during the remaining months of this year. The Secretary indicated we were prepared to proceed on that basis.

  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 75–0125, Pakistan 1972. Confidential. Drafted on September 5 by Lieutenant Colonel Gross and approved by Nutter. The conversation was held in Secretary Laird’s office.↩
  2. During his initial call on Secretary of Defense Laird, Pakistani Ambassador Sultan Mohammed Khan brought up the issue of military supplies for Pakistan and the “one-time exception” sale offer of October 1970. Laird indicated that the U.S. was prepared to consider Pakistan’s request but not until later in the year.↩