The Hindu : Hope nuclear row does not recur: U.S.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 07, 2004

International

International

Hope nuclear row does not recur: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 6. Even while going out of its way in not formally commenting on the nature and scope of the `investigation' in Pakistan into the nuclear issue involving the top scientist, A.Q. Khan, the Bush administration has asked Pakistan to make sure that it is not a source of proliferation `again'.

"As far as the specifics of what happens to Dr. Khan, other than making sure that he and whatever other individuals or networks in Pakistan might have been involved in this trade do not transfer anything again; as far as the specifics of sentencing or pardons or whatever, that really is a matter for Pakistan to decide...," said the State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher.

"I do not think it is a matter for the United States to sit in judgment on," he said pointing out that what really mattered were two things: the network and individuals must be found out and stopped; and the information be shared with the international community as the network had extended far beyond the borders of Pakistan.

The Bush administration would also not comment on whether the commitments of Gen. Musharraf and the information sharing with the international community have been adequate.

The spokesman fielded several questions on Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf granting Dr. Khan a pardon. Asked if it was all right for nations to proliferate as long as they told the United States about it and agreed not to do so again, Mr. Boucher replied, "No, it is not okay. No. It is for Governments to find out and prevent this kind of thing. But what penalties, sanctions, controls or steps are used to prevent it from happening again — those are up for individual governments to decide."

Critics of the Bush administration have been repeatedly making the point that the U.S. has been letting Gen. Musharraf off the hook on many serious issues especially in the realm of proliferation to such countries as Iran, Libya and North Korea. The reason for the soft approach is for all to see: Washington does not want to get on the wrong side of Gen. Musharraf especially in the context of the `cooperation' on the war on terror. And in the immediate case the Republican administration has not publicly criticised Pakistan for fear of adding to the political pressures of Gen. Musharraf.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Putin vows to crush terrorism

Outsourcing of jobs becomes a poll issue in U.S.

Khan issue: MMA strike fizzles out

Hope nuclear row does not recur: U.S.

`No attempt on Sistani's life'

GE to supply engines for Tejas