Date

Dec 15, 1971

Description

The following related dissent cables and responses from Policy Planning, released by the Department of State in response to the National Security Archive's FOIA lawsuit, continue the debate over US support of West Pakistani aggression in Southeast Asia.

The first contends that the ambiguous support the US was providing to Pakistan would render "the U.S. role to contentious irrelevancy." The cable argues that the current U.S. posture does little to alter the outcome of the Pakistan-Indian military confrontations, and risks alienating India. The author recommends that the United States support a ceasefire at the UN based on the "emerging reality of Bangla Desh [sic]," release a statement "re-affirming U.S. 'neutrality,'" and the "prompt establishment of pragmatic USG relations with Bangla Desh [sic] authorities."

The State Department's response affirmed that senior policy-level officers have carefully reviewed the sentiments shared in the dissent cable despite the fact that a "number of points mentioned run counter to current U.S. policy."

The second cable expresses a USAID officer's concern over the ending of the U.S. arms embargo to Pakistan. The author believes that it "threatens the stability of the subcontinent," and would cause U.S. influence and credibility in the region to suffer. Moreover, he predicts difficulties in distinguishing between lethal and non-lethal weapons, and in ensuring these weapons will not be used against civilians or U.S. allies. The message warns that reinstating arms sales to Pakistan could cause an arms race on the subcontinent, and could impair USAID objectives. He attaches a report he had prepared on the matter, ultimately concluding that the continuation of the arms embargo is "the preferred course."

Director of Planning and Coordination Cargo responds that the dissent cable "raised a number of specific substantive points...and they deserve an answer." Cargo acknowledges that the issues raised by the dissent cable had been discussed at the highest levels of government by those concerned with "the implications of our arms supply policy."

In his attached comments, Cargo reaffirms that the policy "resulted in only very small transfers of military supplies." Cargo contends that all arms sales raise "strong moral, political and (often) economic arguments...it is difficult to see why we should make a unique exception for South Asia." He acknowledges that "we cannot guarantee that our arms will only be used in the context in which they were supplied," but Cargo and his colleagues "believe that the liklehood [sic] of India and Pakistan using weapons against each other has diminished markedly." He also predicts that "we do not believe that Pakistan is likely to engage in an 'arms race' with India any more."

Source

FOIA lawsuit, National Security Archive v. Department of State (17-cv-0770)

Document published in following posting(s):

Department of State’s Dissent Channel Revealed

Mar 15, 2018