Pakistan had a request for five F-104 replacement aircraft and wanted to get 100 US-made second-hand M47 tanks, which were part of a promise to Gen Ayub Khan from President Lyndon Johnson during a stopover visit to Karachi airport in December 1967.

After months of negotiations, President Richard Nixon on June 11, 1970, approved the sale of six replacement F-104 fighter-interceptors or 12 F-5s or F-104s of a different model; 300 armored personnel carriers; four anti-submarine patrol aircraft; seven B-57 bombers and 100 M47 tanks.

Gen Yahya used these arms in the genocide against the Bangalees in 1971 to suppress the struggle for liberation and prevent the secession of Pakistan.

While Nixon had some love for Gen Ayub as well as Gen Yahya, others who pressed for the sale were his Adviser Kissinger, Ambassador Farland and Ambassador Hilaly. On the other hand, Secretary Rogers and Ambassador Keating spoke against the reopening of arms sales, the first time since 1965.