This photograph, captured in 1982, shows a meeting between then American president Ronald Reagan and Pakistan’s president Mohammad Ziaul Haq in the Oval Office at the White House.
Ahead of the visit, General Zia allowed the widow of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto — the predecessor he deposed and executed — to seek treatment for cancer in the West. He also released five opposition leaders who were arrested for making critical statements about his US trip.
The New York Times reported that at the meeting, Zia told President Reagan that his government was not interested in acquiring or making nuclear weapons but was seeking nuclear technology “for peaceful purposes.”
At the same meeting, President Reagan reaffirmed the United States commitment to a six-year $3.2 billion economic and military aid program. State Department officials told the press that the aid package was designed in part to restrain Pakistan from developing nuclear weapons.
This was General Zia’s first state visit to the United States. He also went to New York, Texas and California, followed by a state visit to Canada.
After his White House meeting, General Zia visited the Pentagon and attended a luncheon given by Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger. Later in the day, he met Congressional leaders. The same night, General Zia and his wife were honoured at the White House with a state dinner.
Reagan, standing side by side with General Zia at welcoming ceremonies on the sun-dappled South Lawn of the White House, cited Pakistan’s “courageous and compassionate role’” in giving shelter to Afghan refugees. “‘We’re proud to stand with you, Mr President, helping to provide for these tragic victims of aggression, while, at the same time, seeking a peaceful resolution of the circumstances that brought them to your country,” Reagan said.
General Zia told President Reagan that the United States and Pakistan had a friendship “strong enough to withstand differences of opinion.”
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny,” General Zia said
Zia also referred to the 100,000 Soviet troops occupying Afghanistan and said his visit to the United States had “great importance for renewal of a friendship that has endured many ups and downs.” He added that the nations of west and southwest Asia from the eastern Mediterranean to Afghanistan were in ferment.
“Armed aggression, military intervention, conflicts, disregards for universally accepted principles of international conflict, have all combined to present a serious challenge to the security of the countries of this region,” General Zia said.
The general’s conversation with President Reagan was marked by “openness and warmth,” according to an Administration official. The official said Mr Reagan did not bring up allegations of human rights abuses and the arrests of political opponents by the Zia Government.
Ahead of the visit, General Zia allowed the widow of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto — the predecessor he deposed and executed — to seek treatment for cancer in the West. He also released five opposition leaders who were arrested for making critical statements about his US trip.
The New York Times reported that at the meeting, Zia told President Reagan that his government was not interested in acquiring or making nuclear weapons but was seeking nuclear technology “for peaceful purposes.”
At the same meeting, President Reagan reaffirmed the United States commitment to a six-year $3.2 billion economic and military aid program. State Department officials told the press that the aid package was designed in part to restrain Pakistan from developing nuclear weapons.
This was General Zia’s first state visit to the United States. He also went to New York, Texas and California, followed by a state visit to Canada.
After his White House meeting, General Zia visited the Pentagon and attended a luncheon given by Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger. Later in the day, he met Congressional leaders. The same night, General Zia and his wife were honoured at the White House with a state dinner.
Reagan, standing side by side with General Zia at welcoming ceremonies on the sun-dappled South Lawn of the White House, cited Pakistan’s “courageous and compassionate role’” in giving shelter to Afghan refugees. “‘We’re proud to stand with you, Mr President, helping to provide for these tragic victims of aggression, while, at the same time, seeking a peaceful resolution of the circumstances that brought them to your country,” Reagan said.
General Zia told President Reagan that the United States and Pakistan had a friendship “strong enough to withstand differences of opinion.”
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny,” General Zia said
Zia also referred to the 100,000 Soviet troops occupying Afghanistan and said his visit to the United States had “great importance for renewal of a friendship that has endured many ups and downs.” He added that the nations of west and southwest Asia from the eastern Mediterranean to Afghanistan were in ferment.
“Armed aggression, military intervention, conflicts, disregards for universally accepted principles of international conflict, have all combined to present a serious challenge to the security of the countries of this region,” General Zia said.
The general’s conversation with President Reagan was marked by “openness and warmth,” according to an Administration official. The official said Mr Reagan did not bring up allegations of human rights abuses and the arrests of political opponents by the Zia Government.