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33
VII. UNITED STATES = PAKISTAN RELATIONS
Although the entire South Asian area is of relatively secondary
importance to the United States from a military point of view, because
of its remoteness from the United States, its difficult terrain and its
lack of comunications and other essential facilities required by modern
combat forces, Pakistan is, however, of potentially strategic importance
to us. The section extending from Karachi to Lahore might, under certain
conditions, become important strategically, in spite of very great logis-
tic difficulties. For instance, in the event of war with the USSR, the
area might be necessary for air operations against central Russia and/or
as a staging area for forces destined for the defense or recapture of
Middle East oil fields. Pakistan's strategic value should not be openly
stressed, however, because it negates our oft-expressed desire to help
these regions for economic motives.
Fortunately, certain elements exist in our relationship with Pakistan
upon which arrangements of mutual benefit might possibly be built. Pakistan
is more Western than Eastern-minded, and is basically friendly toward the
United States, in spite of temporary irritations against us. In our op- cap
position to the encroachments of communism we stand for principles with
which Pakistan is essentially sympathetic.
Our Embassy in Karachi is singled out by the Pakistan Government for
especially friendly and cordial relations. Pakistan officials speak to
our representatives with a degree of frankness, trust and confidence that
is perhaps unique among the diplomatic missions in that capital. We
maintain consulates at Lahore and Dacca (East Pakistan), which supplement
the efforts of our Embassy to extend and strengthen our already friendly
SECRET
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"ocrText": "SECRET\n33\nVII. UNITED STATES = PAKISTAN RELATIONS\nAlthough the entire South Asian area is of relatively secondary\nimportance to the United States from a military point of view, because\nof its remoteness from the United States, its difficult terrain and its\nlack of comunications and other essential facilities required by modern\ncombat forces, Pakistan is, however, of potentially strategic importance\nto us. The section extending from Karachi to Lahore might, under certain\nconditions, become important strategically, in spite of very great logis-\ntic difficulties. For instance, in the event of war with the USSR, the\narea might be necessary for air operations against central Russia and/or\nas a staging area for forces destined for the defense or recapture of\nMiddle East oil fields. Pakistan's strategic value should not be openly\nstressed, however, because it negates our oft-expressed desire to help\nthese regions for economic motives.\nFortunately, certain elements exist in our relationship with Pakistan\nupon which arrangements of mutual benefit might possibly be built. Pakistan\nis more Western than Eastern-minded, and is basically friendly toward the\nUnited States, in spite of temporary irritations against us. In our op- cap\nposition to the encroachments of communism we stand for principles with\nwhich Pakistan is essentially sympathetic.\nOur Embassy in Karachi is singled out by the Pakistan Government for\nespecially friendly and cordial relations. Pakistan officials speak to\nour representatives with a degree of frankness, trust and confidence that\nis perhaps unique among the diplomatic missions in that capital. We\nmaintain consulates at Lahore and Dacca (East Pakistan), which supplement\nthe efforts of our Embassy to extend and strengthen our already friendly\nSECRET"
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