A Q Khan: 'Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation'

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Why is he coming out now? Attempt to further weaken Musharraf?

…
The Pakistani scientist blamed for running a rogue network that sold nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya has recanted his confession, telling ABC News the Pakistani government and President Perez Musharraf forced him to be a “scapegoat” for the “national interest.”

“I don’t stand by that,” Dr. A.Q. Khan told ABC News in a 35-minute phone interview from his home in Islamabad, where he has been detained since “confessing” that he ran the nuclear network on his own, without the knowledge of the Pakistani government. The interview will be broadcast Friday on “World News With Charles Gibson.”

It was his first interview with an American journalist in a series of telephone interviews he has granted this week, marking the 10th anniversary of Pakistan’s first test of a nuclear bomb.

“People were asking a lot of questions, so I said, ‘OK. Let me give an answer,’” Khan told ABC News early Friday, Pakistan time.
As to his widely publicized confession, Khan said he was told by Musharraf that it would get the United States “off our backs” and that he was promised he would be quickly pardoned. “Those people who were supposed to know knew it,” Khan said about his activities.

If true, it would mean Pakistan lied to the U.S. and the international community about its role in providing nuclear weapons technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

A spokesman for the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. said today the government there hasn’t changed its views on Khan despite the claims he makes in the interview, “The government of Pakistan has adequately investigated allegations of nuclear proliferation and considers the AQK affair closed,” said a statement from the embassy to ABC News.

A U.S. official said American investigators were also unconvinced of Khan’s latest claims. “We have not changed our assessment that A.Q. Khan was a very major and dangerous proliferator. He sold sensitive nuclear equipment and know-how to some genuinely bad actors,” the official said.
Khan admitted in the ABC News interview that he had twice traveled to North Korea but denied ever going to Iran or Libya.

Khan said the North Korean nuclear weapons program was “well-advanced” before he arrived, as part of an officially sanctioned trip by his government.
As to Iran, he said he believed it would be a “long time” before that country would be able to test a nuclear weapon.

Khan said it was ridiculous to suppose that al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden would be able to build or acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan. “How can people who live in a cave hope to do that?” he said.

After his 2004 confession, Pakistani President Musharraf refused to allow U.S. or international experts to question Khan.
“It’s none of their bloody business,” said Khan, who insisted he would never discuss his past activities with any U.S. investigators.

Khan says he remains under guard and unable to leave his home, other than for medical reasons. “Health is not so good. I have been through a lot of difficulties. You know I had prostate cancer,” Khan said.

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

Like that's any revelation. Maybe PPP will also open a UN investigation on this issue like they just did with BB's murder.

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

Musharraf is as guilty as AQ Khan is, he just needed a scapegoat to save his kursi.

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AQ Khan stared his business before Mush was even the head of the army. In fact it was during PPP and PML rule that most of this went down. Nice try at falsifying facts though.

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

^ Thats like wiping off Musharrafs tushy and sayin the toilet paper was clean. We all know Musharraf and his sharaabi-kabaabi ayaash Generals became billionaires overnight.

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

From Altaf bhai to NA speaker, everyone seems to be dissin Mushy now:

**AQ Khan blames Musharraf for country’s woes

** submitted 22 hours 20 minutes ago NUCLEAR scientist and builder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme Dr AQ Khan has said that he will prefer to work for educational uplift and social welfare rather than doing more for the atomic programme, should he get freedom and Allah blessed him with more potential to work.
He was taking to the Waqt News TV in an exclusive interview on Thursday. Dr Khan said that the restrictions laid on him had not been lifted, only some relief had been given which included permission and facility to see old friends.
Talking about his health conditions, he said that he was not in a good health and often had blood pressure while the doctor inspected him twice a week. He said that he had an intention to attend to his works again if God blessed him with good health.
In reply to a question, he said God has blessed him with peace and patience: time is passing on very well: saying prayers and reciting the Holy Quran are his routine activities. Answering another question about KRL budget, the nuclear scientist said that the budget had never exceeded 25 million dollars, which also included salaries and educational projects expenses.
Dr Qadeer said that his brother who had been very sick was better now and he would go to Karachi soon after his brother shifted to home from the hospital. He said that the people who had the least concern with the education had become the monopolists of it. Talking about Youm-e-Takbeer, he said that he was very happy on the eve. “The entire nation knows that we made the country an atomic power,” he added.
Dr Khan thanked Nawa-i-Waqt and Waqt News TV for the interview, adding that his first interview was with Nawa-i-Waqt on Feb 10, 1984, which made him well known.
Agencies add: Dr AQ Khan rebuked Pervez Musharraf on Thursday, saying the country has ‘gone to the dogs’ in the last 10 years.
In an unusually candid interview with a private TV channel, Dr Khan also complained of myriad health problems since he was put under house arrest.
Speaking by phone from his Islamabad residence, Dr Khan said that the test had proved sceptics in the West wrong that ‘we were not capable of doing anything’.
Yet hopes that Pakistan could then make progress in economic development after becoming ‘self-sufficient’ in national defence had not been realised, he said.
** “This has not happened. The last 10 years, the country has gone to the dogs,” Dr Khan said. “People are hungry. You see the (rising) prices and all.”
Asked if he blamed Musharraf for the nation’s problems, Dr Khan said: “The team leader is to be responsible for the failure of the team but all those who were with him did not assert themselves and do a proper job.” **
Dr Khan said that the government should be given time to cope with Pakistan’s many problems.
Dr Khan’s forthright comments touching on the nation’s volatile politics appear to reflect his increasing confidence in speaking out and the diminishing standing of Musharraf.
Dr Khan said that most of the facts about the scandal were widely known but there would be further revelations to come about the country’s nuclear proliferation scandal.
But when asked what was yet to be revealed, he said: “They will be out, there are some things - they will be out in time, when an appropriate time is there.”
Dr Khan said that there were certain subjects he could not talk about because of the “national interest”.
Dr Khan told the channel that the restrictions on his movements had not been relaxed although he was allowed out of his house to visit the Academy of Sciences this month to mourn a former colleague.
Dr Khan said he was free to use the phone but soldiers still guard his house in a swank area of Islamabad and “only a very few people have been allowed to come and see me.”
Dr Khan said his health had deteriorated because of his detention. He said he had suffered many illnesses including deep vein thrombosis and prostate cancer - for which he underwent surgery last year.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/30-May-2008/AQ-blames-Musharraf-for-countrys-woes

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He should write a book. Seems to be the thing to do.

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Is this the same AQ Khan that sold nuclear secrets to Iran - a nation that has threatened to destroy another?

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There's nothing wrong with that, only in your little head. And only in your little head did Iran threaten another nation.

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Pakistan tested its first nuke in May 1998, so AQ Khan couldn't have sold this technology before that. Mush took over in Oct 1999 and from what we've seen most of alleged transactions were in Mush era and its not possible that he could've done it without Mushy's/govt's knowledge.

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All under “Great Musharraf” :hehe:

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It's amazing how much Zionists lie. It's an established fact that it was not Iran but the Apartheid occupiers of Islam's first Qiblah which threatened Iran with nukes.

Let me know if certain Zionist disagrees with their anti-Islam friends in Israel.

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I dun think so, since this particular issue has more daring implications for Pakistan than Musharaf. To start with, IF it is established that government of PAkistan was involved in this trade then we will find ourselves standing shoulder to shoulder with North Korea (regardless of Musharaf did it or NS or Benazir or even if Zia approved it or had knowledge). The irony is that we Pakistanis are mostly half wits who find PLEASURE in blaming everything on opponents and forget that when it comes to sensitive issues like this no one (other nations) will let it go by saying “oh the guy who was running the country that time was corrupt, we understand, be careful next time” :rolleyes:

PS: Do you really believe Dr Khan pulled it through right under tne noses of CIA, RAA, MUSAD and ISI (assuming Government wasn’t involved)? if that is true then he did one hell of a job there! (keeping in mind his high profile and importance in Pakistan’s nuclear program)

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

I am sad that Dr. Qadeer was imprisoned but the man has to SHUT UP.

Loose lips sink ships. Thw world knows that Pakistani technology went to Iran, Libya etc. So if AQK says it was "authorized" then it puts Govt of Pakistan in trouble.

We don't need this especially at a time when the world is already questioning the safety of our nukes.

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

^ This should've been given a deeper thought than merely zibahifying one baqra, a better response from Pakistan would've been a wider "inquiry" and more people "zibahified" but no it was ONLY bad bad AQ Khan solely responsible for the whole steal-tech-drama. Selfishness is not monopolized by some "highness".

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Re: Khan: Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation

my god, how the tides have changed :cb:

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I hope he quiets down a bit. He has been saved thanks to Pak Military's pro-West policies. The day Pak Military's protection is gone, Dr. AQ can be in huge trouble.

IAEA and Western agencies will be on him like Pitt-bulls on a piece of red meat.

If AQ thinks that Zardari or NS can save him form the West, he is gravely mistaken. These politicos will be the first to hand him over as an international fugitive.

Who can forget that it was Islamic brother countries of Iran and Libya who pointed their fingers straight at Dr. AQ.

I wish Dr. AQ uses some IQ and keeps himself out of limelight. However the past clearly shows that he loves interviews and big weddings and flashy cars. Nothing wrong with that, but his finger prints are all over the dirty money to fund the big weddings. Just read the papers uncovered that show how AQ was deeply in cahoots with Dubai and Malaysian networks and nuclear arms bazar.

It is sad, that a person of his stature would have gone down like this. If he had been careful, he would have been the president of a prosperous Pakistan.

He may still become president, but that won't be too different of situation from brotherly country Iran. Just like Iran we will have a bombastic president who brings home daily bagfulls of international sanctions. Iran survives becuase they have oil. bue we in Pakistan lack that luxury. So we will surely become North Korea under AQK 's presidency, begging for oil and food.

Ya Allah why do we in Pakistan get this kind of leaders. We needed simple honest and quiet leaders like Dr. Samar. But instead we got AQ. May be we deserve them. May be we don't.

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Re: A Q Khan: ‘Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation’

AQ Khan’s Newspaper Interview published, here goes:

Four years ago you made a televised confession offering your “deepest regrets and unqualified apologies” for selling nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Was it genuine?

"I never was selling. This is the western garbage that uses the word selling. I never sold anything to anyone. I never sold anything and I never got any money. Nobody has proved this and nobody can prove it.

Was your confession made of your own free will?

“It was not of my own free will. It was handed into my hand.”

So why did you agree to go along with it?

“Oh, in the national interest I guess. And the promises which were made.”

What promises?

“Freedom, rehabilitation, all these things.”

Are you happy that you went along with it?

"No, not now. I was hand-tied. I think it was a mistake. At that time things were not so clear and you couldn’t see that people could go back on their words and renege their promises.

Do you hold President Pervez Musharraf personally responsible for this?

One person holds the reins, the others follow … There are always self-seekers and sycophants and more lies. This goes on.

President Musharraf might say that American evidence forced him to act against you?

The Americans presented to the whole world the proof against Iraq. And you know what it was. And now about Iran, and so it goes on. It’s unbelievable that Bush and Colin Powell and Dick Cheney and Condolleezza Rice are bringing lies, lies, lies, bringing photos and false documents … it can happen everywhere.

Do you feel any responsibility for the nuclear programmes in North Korea, Libya or Iran?

No … you must have read that the Swiss president destroyed papers that included weapons blueprints. [That shows that] the western countries have all those blueprints and technology and papers and know-how. So they were supplying to everyone. They were supplying to us, they were supplying to them. The only thing is that they were using the same route as we were using.

Which route was that?

Dubai. It was a free port. We were importing all our things from Dubai and all the other countries were importing from Dubai.

Some people say you were running a “nuclear supermarket”, Time magazine called you a “merchant of menace”. How do you feel about these terms?

I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me at all. They don’t like our God, they don’t like our prophet, they don’t like our holy book, the Qur’an. So how could they like me?

… I have come to realise that one person writes – sorry to use the word – a ****pile and everyone picks up and quotes him whether it is true or not. It is meant for the western public, the western media, who are mostly totally ignorant of the facts here. [they say that] my house is a huge white villa, I have 43 villas here, I have so many bank accounts. Nobody could ever prove anything. [They say that] I had a very huge $10m hotel in Timbuktu. You should have gone and seen – it was an eight-room mud brick house where the poor people reside.

So you are not a rich man?
Never was, never will be.

The IAEA wants to send its investigators to speak with you. Would you speak to them?

Why should I talk to them? I am under no obligation. We are not signatory to NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]. I have not violated any international laws. So why should I talk to them?

So even if it were possible, you wouldn’t?

Why should I? This is my internal affair and my country’s affair – why should I talk to them?

They say they want to make sure no other country can illegally acquire the bomb.

Why don’t you talk about Israel, why don’t you talk about South Africa. Why did you supply and help South Africa to manufacture six bombs … this is a discriminatory approach. That is wrong with us and it should be wrong with them also.

There’s been a lot of speculation that you are keeping an “insurance policy” – documents that shows links between nuclear smuggling and the Pakistani military – with your daughter in London. Are you?

No such thing happened. MI6 has spoken to my daughter, they have been to her house. I did not keep any official paper in my house or anywhere. I know it’s an official secret. … When I left I had a few ballpoints and a small table calendar and nothing else.

What did you do for the celebrations to mark 10 years since Pakistan became a nuclear power?

I stayed at home. I saw on the TV what was going on, I saw on the newspapers. Some people sent flowers, some people phoned and congratulated.

How did you feel?

Two days are important in the history of Pakistan – the 14th of August, when Pakistan was created, and this 28th May, when at least Pakistan got the capacity of protecting itself against aggression and threats and blackmailing. It was a very big day. And since you have been a part of it, you feel proud of being such an historical movement.

What has Pakistan gained from having the bomb?

Peace. No attacks from India in the past 36 years. Otherwise there might have been a war in Kashmir, there might have been a war in Punjab … that has given something, some sense of security to the country.

How has it defined Pakistan’s relationship with the west. You said in the past the west was hostile to Islam. So what has it done?

You know very well the west never likes any country to be a bit independent, whether it is making a bomb, or whether it is financial position and stuff. They want to keep them under thumb. It is not giving any threat to anyone … We have to look after our interests as the western countries look after their interests.

Where are you speaking from?

I am inside my house. I’m in the living room. I can see the guards. You can see them, they are all around.

Do you hope your house arrest will be lifted soon?

There’s always hope as long as the world is there. As long as you are living there is always hope. Without hope you can’t survive.

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Dr. AQ lives in his own world (dare I say). He says and I quote:

**Question - What has Pakistan gained from having the bomb?

AQ reply - Peace. No attacks from India in the past 36 years. Otherwise there might have been a war in Kashmir, there might have been a war in Punjab ... that has given something, some sense of security to the country.
**

India had massed its troops for 6 months. The war was imminent, and it only stopped when Americans threatened to pull out 60,000 citizens out of Banglore, Delhi etc.

Indian IT companies ran to Delhi and begged for a cool down on the border. Pakistan's bombs have no value when Indians think they can hurt Pakistan a lot more in case of a war.

Our memories are short, so the AQ and others can say whatever they want and people accept them as a hadees.

p.s. It will not be upto Dr. AQ to say no to IAEA and other investigators. When they come, they will talk to him and ask about the wheeling and dealing. His argument about South Africa and Israel is very weak. South Africa doesn't have a nuclear bomb and Israel never exploded one.

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Re: A Q Khan: 'Pakistan Government knew/part of nuclear proliferation'

YaaroN... thread kaa sarsari jaaizaa letaY huaY mujhaY heart attack hotay hotaY bachaa hai :(

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