205. Intelligence Information Cable Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency1
COUNTRY
- China/Afghanistan/Pakistan
SUBJECT
- Chinese Disappointment Over Pakistani Reluctance To Coordinate With China on Aid to Afghan Rebels [1 line not declassified]
SOURCE
- [2½ lines not declassified]
1. While discussing on 10 February 1980 Chinese views of the Afghanistan situation and the late January visit to Pakistan of Chinese Foreign Minister Huang Hua, [less than 1 line not declassified] stated that his government had been disappointed by aspects of Huang’s talks with the Pakistanis. Although the Chinese have established direct contact with Afghan rebel leaders in order to develop some idea of the capabilities and actual needs of the rebels in terms of arms, equipment and other logistical support, the Pakistan Government is not being cooperative regarding timely coordination of a joint position on the level and implementation of such aid and support to the Afghan rebels. Pakistan indicated it wished to consider the matter further, and the Chinese ascribe the Pakistani reluctance to their concern that meaningful support to the Afghan rebels could have negative consequences for Pakistan with regard to possible Soviet actions on the border.
2. [less than 1 line not declassified] the Chinese [less than 1 line not declassified] Government was attempting to move Pakistan speedily on this issue because the Chinese believe it is essential that the Soviets be engaged militarily in Afghanistan in a way which will inflict personnel losses the Soviets will be unwilling to sustain for both foreign and domestic policy reasons. Thus, in the Chinese view, the Afghan rebels must be provided the training and means to render the invasion of Afghanistan costly to the Soviet Union.
3. ACQ: [1 line not declassified]
4. [less than 1 line not declassified] Dissemination: [2 lines not declassified]
- Source: Department of Defense, Afghan War Collection, Box 5, PRC Support for Insurgents. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].↩