NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02988121
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 2, 2020
• Case Number: F-2019-01054
• Publication Date: July 5, 1977

Approved for Release: 2020/09/01 CO2988121
The
National
Intelligence
INN
Published by the Director of Central Intelligence for Named Principals Only
TUESDAY JULY 5, 1977
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 154
TCS 654/77
Pakistan: Military Seizes Government
The Pakistani military seized power
last night, after apparently concluding
that there was no hope of a negotiated
settlement to the four-month-old
political crisis. Prime Minister Bhutto
and the most important opposition
leaders have been placed in "temporary
protective custody," and army com-
mander Zia-ul-Haq reportedly is
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heading the military government.
The military had been extremely reluc-
tant to intervene despite civil disorders
worse than those that brought on military
takeovers in 1958 and 1969. Among the
most reluctant was Zia, who owed his
position to Bhutto. He may well have
agreed to act because of pressure from his
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subordinates, and decisions are likely to
be made by a group of senior officers
rather than by Zia alone.
Zia, 52, has been in the army since
1944. He is a strong nationalist but is
believed friendly to the US, where- he
attended two army staff schools when he
was a major.
Although the generals could change
MIIMIEMENNEMINSIO
their minds later, they probably do not
now want an extended period of military
rule. The last military government ended
in disaster with the loss of East
Pakistan�now Bangladesh. The generals
are still unsure of their popular support,
and some have misgivings about the
military's ability to govern.
Yesterday, the leaders of the opposition
parties rejected a compromise formula for
ending the crisis to which Bhutto and op-
position representatives had agreed on
Saturday. Although negotiations might
still have continued, the military may
have felt that widespread violence was
likely to erupt. Clashes between the op-
position and Bhutto's followers had been
increasing, and
at least in Karachi,
violence could surpass that of March and
April if talks broke down.
A military government is unlikely to
continue Bhutto's charges that the US is
interfering in Pakistani politics, but
otherwise it will probably pursue much
the same foreign policy. The generals�as
do most Pakistanis�see India as the
major threat and will seek to main-
tain good relations with possible
sources of military and economic aid
including the US, China, and some of
the Muslim nations.
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2 TUESDAY JULY 5, 1977
TCS 654/77 THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY
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NR Record
HE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY TCS 654/77
TUESDAY JULY 5, 1977 3
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uI-SDAY JULY 5, 1977 TCS 654/77 THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY
NR Record
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
The National Intelligence Doily is prepared in the
k-ntrol intelligence Agency in cooperation with the
a/her US foreign intelligence organizations. Late items
prepared by CIA alone are so marked. Analytical fea-
ture [articles ore attributed to their authors.
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CGNID 77154JX
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