872–7

Conversation No. 872-7

Date: March 8, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:05 pm and 12:46 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mustafa Khar, Aziz Ahmed, Sultan Khan, and Henry A. Kissinger. The
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.

Greetings

Photographs
-Arrangements

[Photographs]

US-Pakistan relations
-Friendship
-India-Pakistan War of 1971
-Survival of Pakistan
-Interest in peace
-President's 1953 visit to Pakistan
-Interests of US
-Factors affecting US actions
-Congress
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)


-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's message
-Gratitude to President
-India-Pakistan War of 1971
-US support
-Problems
-India, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Bangladesh
-Punjab
-Bangladesh
-Recognition
-Bhutto’s previous message
-President's 1953 visit to Pakistan

India-Pakistan relations
-Simla Agreement
-Troop withdrawals
-Line of control
-Kashmir
-Pressure
-Prisoners of war [POWs] repatriation
-Arrangements
-India’s position
-Civil war
-Recognition of Bangladesh
-Indira Gandhi
-Desire for peace
-Recognition of Bangladedsh
-Letters exchanged with Pakistan
-Troop withdrawal
-Normalization
-POW repatriation
-Recognition of Bangladesh
-Pakistan’s public opinion
-Public statements
-[First name unknown] Singh
-Summit meeting
-Recognition of Bangladesh
-Deadlock
-POW repatriation, recognition of Bangladesh
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)


-Compared to US position in Vietnam
-War crimes trials
-India’s position
-Extradition to Bangladesh
-Indira’s position
-Morality
-Retention of POWs
-Conditions in camps
-Repatriation

USSR
-Relations with Pakistan
-Steel production
-Soviet advisors
-Subversion
-Karachi
-Recognition of Bhutto’s government
-Opposition leaders
-Iraq embassy
-Weapons, equipment
-Guerrillas
-USSR’s response
-Arms sales to India
-Tanks
-Aircraft
-Impact on People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Intentions in South Asia
-Baluchistan
-Pakistan’s knowledge
-Soviet ambassador
-Independence movement
-Iran, Afghanistan
-Relations with Iraq, Syria
-Strategy in South Asia
-Pakistan, Iran, Persian Gulf
-Military forces
-India, Afghanistan
-Pakistan border
 -11-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)



******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 1m 14s]

DISPOSITION OF INDIA’S MILITARY FORCES

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************


-Objectives in 1953
-Pressure on Pakistan
-India
-Relations with PRC
-Security pact with Pakistan
-Treaty
-Compared with India
-Soviet ambassador
-Indian Ocean

Pakistan
-Self-defense
-Talks with congress members
-Economic and military aid
-1959 bilateral agreement
-Suspension
-Timing
-Military aid
-India
-USSR, Eastern Europe
-George S. McGovern
-Economic and military aid
-Arms race with India
-USSR
-Futility
-Military balance between Pakistan and India
-USSR’s objectives
 -12-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)


-Congress’s role
-India’s lobby
-Press
-Arguments
-Arms race
-USSR
-Use of US economic aid
-Indigenous arms production
-Compared to India
-US economic aid
-Impact on arms race
-Requests for aid
-US position
-Congress
-State Department bureaucracy
-Support for Pakistan
-Aid embargo
-India and Pakistan
-Third-party aid
-Iran
-Removal
-Congress, press relations
-Existing contracts
-Armored personnel carriers
-Spare parts
-Iran’s role
-Richard M. Helms
-Congress
-Opposition
-India
-Fear of arms races
-Reaction to USSR’s relationship with India
-Gandhi’s statements
-Third-party exchange
-Political opposition
-Iran
-US arms
-PRC
-Talks with Kissinger
 -13-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)


-India-Pakistan War of 1971
-President's position
-Opposition
-Congress, press relations
-Arms race
-Military balance
-Threat of war
-Bhutto
-Analysis of USSR’s strategy
-Iraq, India
-Opposition
-India
-Burning of US embassy
-Role of US ambassador
-Message from President

India
-Receipt of US aid
-Bhutto
-Visit to US
-Timing
-Mujibar Rahman

Bangladesh
-Rahman’s visit
-Unlikelihood
-Independence
-India’s support
-US humanitarian aid

US aid to Pakistan
-Opposition
-Support
-Mobilization
-Bureaucracy
-State Department, Defense Department bureaucracies
-Understanding of international politics
-Pakistan’s survival
 -14-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-7 (cont’d)


Khar
-Home city
-President’s visit

Bhutto
-President's best wishes
-University of California, Berkeley

Kissinger’s attitudes
India

Kissinger, Khar et al., left at 12:46 pm.