The Hindu : `Pakistan scientists trading in n-arms'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 19, 2004

International

International

`Pakistan scientists trading in n-arms'

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JAN. 18. `Rogue' scientists from Pakistan have been accused of being part of a worldwide `network' of illegal trade in nuclear technology, according to a British newspaper.

The Observer claimed today that Pakistan was at the heart of a growing international black market in nuclear material and know-how.

"In the network of illegal radioactive trade, all roads point to Pakistan. More precisely they lead to the Khan Research Laboratories in Kahuta in north Pakistan,'' it said.

In a special report, the newspaper said that U.N. inspectors who visited nuclear facilities in Libya recently discovered large amounts of aluminium centrifuge part that had "all the hallmarks'' of the designs `stolen' by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, when he worked for an Anglo-Dutch consortium called Unreco in the seventies.

"Evidence has now emerged from Iran and Libya that Khan's programme in Pakistan may be the source of the greatest level of nuclear weapons proliferation since the Cold War,'' it said claiming that weapons programmes of Libya, Iran and North Korea led back to Pakistan.

Iran's nuclear programme, the newspaper said, was helped by "rogue scientists from Pakistan motivated by million-dollar payouts.'' According to the newspaper, `dramatic' evidence from Iran and Libya pointed to a "clandestine and sophisticated network'' stretching from North Korea, Malaysia and China to Russia, Germany and Dubai.

Aide to scientist detained

Reuters reports:

Pakistani authorities have detained a key aide to the father of Pakistan's atom bomb for questioning as they investigate reports of the possible transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, officials said in Islamabad today.

Pakistan has questioned Abdul Qadeer Khan, revered as a national hero for developing the nuclear device, and several of his colleagues in recent weeks. A senior government official said Islam-ul-Haq, Mr. Khan's principal secretary, was detained for questioning last evening in Islamabad.

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