The Carter years

January 12, 2025

In addition to peace efforts in the Middle East, President Carter negotiated arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, especially concerning nuclear weapons

The Carter years


B

orn on October 1, 1924, in the US state of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. He was the longest-living president in American history.

In addition to having served as a US president, he came to be recognised as a significant writer and diplomat. His family was known for growing peanuts, but he also had business experience, studied engineering, served in the Navy as a submariner, worked at the University of Georgia and was an environmentalist. He was awarded an honorary doctorate and served as a senator and governor of Georgia. He was best known, however, for humanitarian work. He was recognised worldwide for his contributions to defence of human rights, peace, security and democracy.

To promote these causes, he established the Carter Center in Georgia, donating his presidential pension to cover its expenses. He continued living in his modest old house, where he had resided before entering politics. The Carter Center monitored over 100 elections in 39 countries, identifying and pointing out irregularities in many. Along with his wife, Rosalynn Carter (who passed away in 2023), he established various charitable organisations, built homes for the homeless and adhered to the Christian ideals of service throughout their lives.

In his career before his presidency, his mother had been a major influence.

As president, Carter served from 1977 to 1981. During this period, the world saw great tumult. On December 27, 1979, Soviet forces entered Afghanistan. Earlier, on February 11, Iran had witnessed the overthrow of its pro-American monarch and the revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Revolutionary changes were also taking place in the Middle East. He helped broker the Camp David Accords between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, resulting in a peace between Egypt and Israel that has held to this day. However, the agreement also stirred significant unrest in the Arab and Muslim worlds. As a result of the accords, Egypt regained the Sinai Peninsula and Israel was assured of secure borders with Egypt and Jordan. As a partner in this enterprise, Sadat paid with his life.

The Carter years


On December 27, 1979, Soviet forces entered Afghanistan. Earlier, on February 11, Iran had seen the overthrow of its pro-American monarch and the revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Revolutionary changes were taking place in the Middle East.

In addition to peace efforts in the Middle East, President Carter worked tirelessly to negotiate arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, especially concerning nuclear weapons. However, his efforts were unsuccessful, and the Soviet aggression escalated in Afghanistan. It has been argued that developments during the Carter presidency laid the groundwork for the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union, a process completed under President Reagan. The conflict in Afghanistan brought the United States and Pakistan closer.

When ZA Bhutto’s government was overthrown on July 5, 1977, President Carter was unable to influence decisions made in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the Soviet influence in Afghanistan was increasing. This prompted the US to soften its stance on certain issues vis a vis Pakistan. However, US concerns regarding Pakistan’s nuclear programme remained strong and restriction on aid to Pakistan in place.

US government documents from the time show that within days after Soviet forces entered Afghanistan, the administration, under Carter’s guidance, sent a letter to Gen Zia, expressing concerns over regional security and signalling US intentions. Carter also announced a $400 million aid package for Pakistan. Pakistan also get a waiver from the operation of Symington Amendment which prohibited assistance for countries that did not subscribe to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The US government said while nuclear non-proliferation remained a priority, the US was willing to accommodate Pakistan’s security concerns.

Meanwhile, India under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi refused to condemn the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Carter, now had no choice but to support Pakistan’s concerns despite reservations over nuclear issues.

(To be continued)


The writer is a senior journalist, columnist and lawyer. He is the president of Liberal Human Forum. He can be reached at arrehan@hotmail.com

The Carter years