U.S. INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES IN PAKISTAN

Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate
Espionage
Missionary Intelligence
Humanitarian Programs
International Rescue Committee
Cultural Programs
Biographic Reporting
Air America Sightings
CIA Plots?

U.S. INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES IN PAKISTAN
Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate

Air Intelligence Information Report IR-37-49, Jan.25, 1949

Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, July 18, 1950

Espionage

He said he fully understood the circumstances and was prepared to distribute the material in such a way as to make it appear that it emanated from the Punjab Police and was even prepared to refrain from disclosing to other members of the Pakistan Government the source of the material. Secret Memorandum, Sept. 29, 1949

Ghulam Mohammad informed me today two Pakistani candidates have been designated for training in US. Please advise me of mechanics of approach, documentation and cover for these persons who are prepared to depart at early date. Secret Memorandum on Counter Intelligence Trainees, June 13, 1950

In selecting Air Commodore Khan and Group Captain Saiduddin, both the operational and administrative elements would be adequately covered from the standpoint of providing advisors to Pakistan Government in Exile. Information Concerning Air Commodore Mohammed Asghar Khan and Group Captain Saiduddin, June 26, 1954

The Country Team has discussed a youth program and the Ambassador has appointed a youth committee which includees younger officers from most elements of the Mission. A youth coordinator as described in CA-332 has been selected. The constituent posts will participate in the program, which has the strong support of the Ambassador and DCM. Arrangements are being made to provide funds for pertinent representatational functions hosted by younger Embassy officers. On his brief visit to Pakistan, Mr. Cross, Special Assistant for Youth, further explained the purpose of the youth program and offered helpful suggestions to the mission. The Mission will continue in its normal reports what it can ascertain about student actitudes. Relevant intra-mission memoranda, etc. will be pouched to C/Y. Due to extreme sensitivity in Pakistan toward foreign interest in internal affairs, particularly during the current election campaign, the Mission's youth program must necessarily expand slowly, and largely on a personal basis. New youth contacts will depend primarily upon the political climate. Impact of Youth and US National Interest, April 21, 1970

Questioning of Rosner's acequaintances and several friends and associates of former FSO Ronald Rosner have been questioned [sic] by intelligence authorities regarding his activities in Pakistan both during recent visit and while in Karachi on assignment. Those questioned include Yunis Khan (who underwent most intensive questioning), Saeed Dhinou, Zia Isphahani, Dr. M.H. Rizvi, Happy Minwalla, others. David Cunningham summoned to intelligence headquarters, but not rpt not questioned. ... According to local attorney well known to consulate, Rustom J.E. Kaikobad, 18 men and women have been interrogated with regard Rosner's activities. Second-hand reports of comments by some of those questioned indicate linkage between investigation Karachi November 1 airport death of Polish Deputy Foreign Minister and intelligence interest in Rosner and his activities. We are unable to assess degree of actual linkage. GOP Suspicions of Ronald Rosner, Dec. 16, 1970

Missionary Intelligence

During the past two months, almost all of the American missionaries residing in the Lahore Consular District have been contacted by members of the Consulate General. The purpose of this effort was to establish personal and friendly relationships with the various American communities; to learn of local conditions and problems; and to determine, if possible, their attitude in regard to the present Indo-Pakistan tension. Letters received by the Consulate General from various American missionaries indicate that close personal contact has been achieved between the Consulate General and Americans residing in outlying areas. Contacts with American Missionaries in the Lahore Consular District, Oct. 16, 1951

Comment by the Office of South Asian Affairs of the Department on despatch No. 69 of October 16, 1951, "Contacts with American Missionaries in the Lahore Consular District," prepared by Vice Consul Joyce R, Herrman and Vice Consul Harry M. Phelan, Jr. "This report is concise, yet complete, timely and well organized. The drafting officers are to be commended on the exploitation of available United States sources of intelligence." Confidential Memorandum from the Department of State, Dec. 10, 1951

I paid a flying visit to our Embassy in Karachi on November 22. Although all too brief, it was stimulating. In connection with some of the matters you are engaged in these days, you may be interested in the enclosed copy of a memorandum I prepared for Ambassador Bowles on my return. Letter from Minister Joseph N. Greene, Jr., Dec. 7, 1965 (the memorandum could not be located. - Paul)

Humanitarian Programs

The projects are undertaken on a shared cost basis through the cooperation of the voluntary agencies, the United States Government, and the local governments. The following are the projects and the extent of United States' participation: (a) the movement of 153 refugees from Kashmir to Turkey ... (b) the resettlement of 81 refugees in rural Kashmir ... (c) the resettlement of 68 refugeees in Srinagar ... It is proposed that this assistance be given through a contractual arrangement with Church World Service. Mutual Security Act Allocation for Singkiang Refugees, Nov. 26, 1952

There was established within the Department on March 19 an Asian Regional Committee which is endeavoring to develop and coordinate policies and programs with respect to Central Asia designed to: (1) utilize escapees for intelligence and other purposes, (2) create good will towards the free world in the Central Asian area, and (3) exploit frictions between the peoples of the region and the Soviet and Peiping regimes in order to weaken the Communist bloc. Top Secret Letter from State Dept to Karachi Embassy, June 5, 1953

Would like copies Ford Foundation study Pakistan economic development soon as available US Govt. Does Embassy have advance copy which it could pouch without compromising position? Telegram from John Foster Dulles, June 10, 1955

An activity in which the Ansars are engaged, and of which the Department may not be aware, is a mass literacy campaign based on the methods of Dr. Frank Laubach. I am informed that this program was begun with the assistance of the Asia Foundation. ... The Ansars do not carry arms at the present time, except when they are in training or when they are incorporated into the police force for emergency duty. On these occasions they are issued rifles. It is understood that it was decided to disarm the Ansars in 1954, lest by one means or another they be formed into a political army. East Pak Ansars, Sept. 13, 1955

Lahore American School, and Four Non-Official Americans (three from Ford) in Lahore have received telephone threats over past few days. Unidentified caller to school said building would be blown today. Individuals were told to leave country within five days or "be slaughtered." Threats Against Americans, March 25, 1971

International Rescue Committee

They have an agreement, which I have not seen, between MEDICO and the Afghan Embassy on behalf of the Afghan Ministry of Health which defines their position. As I understand it, they are at the disposition of the Ministry of Health who may send them, from time to time for short or long periods, anywhere in Afghanistan. Dr. and Mrs. Granger, Mar. 8, 1960

The organization, which was formerly a division of the International Rescue Committee, is best known to Americans through the work of Dr. Thomas A. Dooley. He wrote magazine articles and a series of books following his work with refugees from North Viet-Nam and his small hospital in up-country Laos. "Medico", July 20, 1960

Ahsan asked Smit tell Sheikh Mujib to stop any moves by GBD to encourage Bengalis to try to escape from Pakistan; to make specific call to former Class I Civil Servants to cease escape attempts because they merely created resentment among other Bengalis who feared internment and other retribution each time ranking Bengali escaped; that, in general terms, Bengali military personnel were well cared for in cantonments; that former Civil Servants not as badly treated as Bangladesh propaganda would have world believe; and that while some poorer Bengalis are in dire straits, there are plans afoot to provide them relief. Bengalis in Pakistan, October 31, 1972

Jac Smit of International Rescue Committee (IRC), suggested to Bangladesh High Commissioner New Delhi November 3, that BD provide money to needy Bengalis in Pakistan through third party. BD High Commissioner offered to provide Indian rupees to Embassy for this purpose. Emboffs told Smit it probably preferable if BDG could arrange transfer from Dacca without involving USG. ... Emboffs noted USG might not with to become involved even if this not factor and suggested it would be preferable for BDG in Dacca, which should originate donation in any case, to arrange transfer through Ismailis, CWS [Church World Service], Swiss government or other group. Bengalis in Pakistan, Nov. 4, 1972

Cultural Programs

"The heinous and despicable activities of American spies who have come to our country under the guise of teachers and experts for Pakistan's development in educational and other fields are posing great problems in the matter of state security and maintaining our honor and prestige in the outside world. It is alleged that a local American book translation center, the U.S. Information Service and officers connected with the U.S. State Department have taken Pakistan to be the unrestricted sphere of their espionage activitites. These American officials are working day and night in knocking on the doors, of students and teachers, political and labor leaders, reputed authors, poets and journalists and inspiring them to rouse public opinion against the government." ... "The acute need for the awareness of the students, intellectuals, journalists and artistic circles to the propaganda efforts being made in the cultural field of East Pakistan is now being felt. It is a matter of gratification that to protest against such a particular hostile propaganda the Pakistan Committee of "Congress for Cultural Freedom" held a meeting last Thursday at the Bengali Academy. The meeting protested against two articles written by an American Professor named John E. Owen." ... "Dr. Sajjad Hossain was entrusted with the task of drafting a letter to the New Leader protesting against the articles. Others at the meeting included Mr. Mujibur Rahman Khan, Mr. Abdus Salam, Professor Aziz, Syed Ali Ahmed and Mr. Abu Zafar Shamsuddin." Bengali Government-lining daily Paigam Charges American Official with Spying, April 6, 1964 [Ironically, or perhaps not, the Congress for Cultural Freedom was itself a CIA program. - Paul]

PPP Urdu daily Musawat reported that Dr. Abdus Salam Khurshid, Chairman of the Punjab University Department of Journalism, was participating in a CIA-sponsored, mobile seminar. Musawat claimed the American "Agency for International Mass Media" was behind a seminar for Asian professors of journalism that is holding sessions in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei and Djakarta. Information developed during the seminars would then be used to pursue CIA objectives. On September 22 Musawat followed up with a report that Dr. Khurshid had been investigated by the Pakistani CIA in 1966 after it was learned that he had been offered a large payment from USIS for translations to be used against Pakistan's interests. The Pakistani CIA allegedly discovered 60 people translating material for USIS and a firm called Franklin Publications and that their position was that of agents of America. As a result, the GOP ordered no foreign sponsored research without its approval. Musawat claimed the report later vanished from the then West Pakistan Governor's office before action could be taken but now another investigation of Dr. Khurshid had been completed. ... There was a USIS book translation program in 1966 and anti-American elements were highly critical of USIS-sponsored public opinion surveys and of Franklin Publications. There were also representives from the GOP on the surveys. Political Notes, Sept. 24, 1971

Biographic Reporting

The post intends to set up a dossier or folder file, an information card file, and a category index file. For the last will the Division of Biographic Information inform Lahore what categroy index breakdown is being used for Pakistan. Biographic data reports of about 250 Pakistan and Indian national are now in the post files arranged alphabetically but not in separate folders. An info card file of approximately 600 individuals in the consular district is maintained on 3 x 5 cards by the political officer who also keeps a clipping and memorandum file containing biographic information. In establishing the "information card" and "category index" files for individuals of this consular district, should basic data already contained in longer Data Forms be transferred to Forms 438 in interest of completeness of that file? Biographic Information Program, March 26, 1952

Categories of Persons. Persons from any field of activity may be included on target lists. Such persons as a rule fall into the following categories: Political: Royalty, government heads, party leaders, legislative leaders, labor leaders, etc. Intellectual and Cultural: Writers, editors, comentators, artists, musicians, educators, etc. Military: Military leaders, not known to be adequately covered by military evacuation plans, etc. Scientific: Atomic Scientists, bacteriologists, chemists, physicists, etc. Friendly and Unfriendly Persons. The categories of persons included on the target list as outlined in paragraph 4 above are further classified as to their attitude toward the West or United States: Friendly Key Indigenous Persons are: Those indigenous leaders whose loyalties and sympathies are not with the Soviet bloc; Alien intelligence and special operations personnel whose future services are essential to the wartime activities of CIA. Unfriendly Key Indigenous Persons are: Those indigenous leaders who are Communist or Soviet sympathizers; Those indigenous leaders who are otherwise antagonistic or uncooperative, and of special value to the enemy; Key indigenous figures in Communist organizations. ... For each individual recommended for addition to the target list, a Key Indigenous Nomination Card will be completed and forwarded to Washington. Tentative Key Indigenous Target List - NSC 123 Program, May 27, 1954

Potential Leaders Biographic Reporting List (PLBRL) for Pakistan, May 5, 1970 (first page)

FSO Thomas M. Coony has been designated biographic reporting officer for American Embassy Islamabad succeeding FSO Frederick T. Kelley. Designation of Biographic Reporting Officer, Jan. 6, 1971

Potential Leaders Biographic Reporting List for Pakistan, April 13, 1971 (first page)

Potential Leaders Biographic Reporting List for Pakistan, July 19, 1973 (first seven pages)

Air America Sightings

Embassy has received request from GOP Defense Ministry for Information concerning an airplane which overflew East Pakistan on November 14, 1963 apparently without proper clearance. Airplane reportedly identified itself via radio as American craft belonging to Air America, Inc. enroute from Calcutta to Bankok. Gave U.S. registry N2002F and claimed GOP clearance telex 023/22/1/1625. GOP Defense Ministry has no record of such clearance. Embassy unable to identify Air America Inc. Telegram from Karachi Embassy, Feb. 17, 1964

Air America Inc. is a reputable private American firm which performs extensive contract services for USG agencies (e.g. AID) and others in SE Asia and Far East (Japan, Okinowa, Laos, Thailand, Viet-Nam). Firm's head office Washington confirmed aircraft in question was in fact theirs, a new plane en route Saigon to undertake contract work for USG agency. Although aircraft had American registry, it was being delivered by Air Lloyd pilot from Mannheim, Germany. AA office points out plane landed Karachi and certain it had clearance for West Pakistan but may have unintentionally slipped up on East Pakistan overflight clearance. Telegram from Department of State, Feb. 26, 1964

CIA Plots?

"The U.S. today categorically denied that it had informed New Delhi that a coup de etat in Pakistan was imminent or that President Ayub would soon be deposed. The U.S. did not in any way encourage India to attack Pakistan nor did the U.S. have any advance knowledge of Indian moves against Pakistan. ..." Press Release Issued in Washington and London, Sept. 13, 1965

Recently several people have written my office wanting to know the facts concerning the stories that appeared in the London Daily Telegraph on September 13th and 14th by Victor Anant to the effect that our Ambassador told the Indian Government that a coup d'etat against President Ayub was imminent, and that subsequently the Indian attack was cleared with our Ambassador, Chester Bowles. This story in turn was the subject of a column by Russell Kirk. Letter from Congressman Adair, Sept. 29, 1965

During meeting with AID Director Williams in Rawalpindi, November 24, Finance Minister Shoaib stated that President Ayub had deep-seated suspicion that American CIA was attempting to undermine his position and bring about his downfall. Indo-Pak Crisis: Shoaib on Current Problems, Nov. 26, 1965

Baltimore Sun article, also second paged, headlined "Far East Rift Called CIA's Goal in '50's", leads with Smith allegation that CIA tried to create Indo-Pak hostility. Story devoted largely to background of second installment, mentions no American names. Telegram from Department of State, Nov. 16, 1967

Again alleging the existence of a CIA document reportedly aimed at damaging the unity of Pakistan by encouraging a split between the two wings of the country (reftel), Toaha said that the U.S. was seeking to convert East Pakistan into another Vietnam in order to fit it into the "overall global war strategy of U.S. imperialism." Toaha, Accused of NAP Takeover Attempt, Professes Loyalty to Bhashani, Feb. 13, 1970

With respect to recurring charges of some sinister American plot engineered by CIA to separate East Pakistan from rest of country as voiced for example by NAP(L) leder Bhashani, Ahsan said no Pakistan of any real authority placed credence in such stories. He volunteered comment that some American aid officials who dealt regularly with Pakistan officials in trying to get this or that project moving might sometimes feel frustrated over slow progress. If their Pakistan counterparts perhaps criticized central government for not doing enough for East Pakistan, America[n] officials might find themselves agreeing. Thus, remarks by American officials made in innocent context might sometimes get back in exaggerated form to higher levels of GOP in such a way as to create misunderstanding. East Pakistan Governor Ahsan Discounts Allegations of American Meddling in East Bengal, Feb. 16, 1970

In principal speech of occasion, Bhashani ... reiterated charges of CIA document proving U.S. plot to separate East and West Pakistan. Peasant Rally at Toba Tek Singh, March 26, 1970

While charges of CIA involvement are hardly new in Soviet propaganda, their current use is indicative of Soviet effort presently underway to associate us with worst excesses of Islamabad forces in East Pakistan. Allegations may be qualified in various ways or attributed to local press, but flat statements have also been utilized. Charges of CIA Involvement in Subcontinent Affairs, Jan. 10, 1972

A sampling of the attacks on the Ambassador include charges that he: is a CIA agent; was Ambassador to Indonesia and engineered the downfall of Sukarno; and was "responsible for the killing of millions of Indonesian Muslims"; is trying to split East and West Pakistan by fomenting civil war and interfering in the election campaign; was instrumental in toppling the government of Dr. Mossadaq in Iran. Allegations Against American Ambassador and Embassy Personnel, Aug. 4, 1970 [27 pages]

"Recently Ambassador Farland finalized a plan, with the help of some experts, to murder Maulana Kausar Niazi. He made a special trip (accompanied by his experts in four big cars) to Mianwali on July 22. An Ambassador of another country was also with him. These people arrrived at 10 a.m. at the house of a Nawab of Mianwali who is known for keeping a force of "trained Goondas." According to SHAHAB sources, this Nawab has been entrusted with the job of killing Maluana Kausar Niazi. The murder plan was made with the help of CIA representatives in Lahore. (Probably a reference to Congen staff at Lahore.) The people (at Lahore) have been collecting information about Kausar Niazi for the last month. ... Earlier Ambassador Farland had gone to Hunza to finalize a conspiracy to murder Maulana Hazarvi (of Jammiat-ul-Ulema-Islam). According to the (CIA) plan all these leaders will be killed by the people of their native areas to avoid any political connection." Allegations Against American Ambassador, Aug. 14, 1970

Student Activity, Dec. 22, 1953

See also Geo-Politics of South Asian Covert Action, by Dr Bhashyam Kasturi and Pankaj Mehra

Copyright Paul Wolf, 2003-2004. No copyright to original government works. For educational use only.