Posted on 12/21/2003 5:33:56 AM PST by knighthawk
VIENNA -- Evidence discovered in a probe of Iran's secret nuclear program points overwhelmingly to Pakistan as the source of crucial technology that put Iran on a fast track toward becoming a nuclear weapons power, according to U.S. and European officials familiar with the investigation.
The serious nature of the discoveries prompted a decision by Pakistan two weeks ago to detain three of its top nuclear scientists for several days of questioning, with U.S. intelligence experts allowed to assist, the officials said. The scientists have not been charged with any crime, and Pakistan continues to insist that it never wittingly provided nuclear assistance to Iran or anyone else.
Documents provided by Iran to U.N. nuclear inspectors since early November have exposed the outlines of a vast, secret procurement network that successfully acquired thousands of sensitive parts and tools from numerous countries over a 17-year period. While Iran has not directly identified Pakistan as a supplier, Pakistani individuals and companies are strongly implicated as sources of key blueprints, technical guidance and equipment for a pilot uranium-enrichment plant that was first exposed by Iranian dissidents 18 months ago, government officials and independent weapons experts said.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...
Individual violations of N-control rules
ISLAMABAD: As comprehensive and intensive investigations got underway to pinpoint those who stole and sold the country’s nuclear secrets for their personal financial glory, several top Pakistani scientists were found involved in nuclear proliferation only to jeopardise national security.
Informed circles say that recent debriefing of some scientists revealed that certain individual scientists of the country’s top nuclear establishment might have breached the strict export control procedures by making unauthorised and irresponsible contacts with foreign nationals.
"In the process these individual nuclear scientists have been instrumental in leakage of information or components to foreign sources," said a source, who declined to disclose the name of a Dubai-based foreign individual (not Pakistani) who purchased loyalty of these scientists in lieu of hefty financial favours.
Senior officials said the case of Iran, now under investigation by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as the latest news of Libya’s enrichment programme prompted Pakistani authorities to conduct thorough debriefing of certain scientists. The government has already acknowledged that fact.
In the recent past, Director-General Khan’s Research Laboratories (KRL) Dr Farooq, Director KRL Yasin Chohan and two other individuals were taken into custody for debriefing.
"One of these scientists has given clear leads to the investigators. He is cooperating with the authorities and revealing the information relating to misconduct of some top scientists," the source told The News on Saturday.
Investigations and background informal chat with some top officials reveal that both Iranian and Libyan sources are confirming that they are telling the IAEA some untold stories of this nuclear proliferation and stolen components and drawings.
"We are more than convinced that these individual top scientists involved in Pakistan’s nuclear-related entities have done all this proliferation and stolen national secrets in their lust for money and artificially-glorified life," said one top source.
An initial probe launched in the recent past following a spate of allegations against Pakistani entities of having passed on vital information linked with uranium enrichment process unearthed some basic solid proofs of the involvement of these top scientists in stealing nuclear secrets.
The living standards of some of these individuals, said the source, have been ostentatious and opulent indicating accumulation of wealth, which can come only through abnormal and devious methods. So much so, the fat bank balances and costly properties, including palatial houses, are considered a "definite indicator" of their misdeeds and ill-gotten wealth.
Some sources maintain that any "pilferage" of know-how would not have been possible without the connivance of the top management of certain research organisations. This, they believe, cannot take place in presence of stringent procedures and measures to account for classified and sensitive information and technology.
However, since Pakistan’s open acknowledgement in 1985 of possessing an enrichment facility, some individuals might have gradually transferred some basic know-how, drawings or small components over the next decade or so purely in pursuit of personal greed.
The situation, following the initial probe, has reached to an alarming extent and the authorities are now considering conducting investigations of some of the top nuclear scientists who are otherwise revered by the nation.
In weeks to come, the government looks determined to weed out such corrupt elements from the country’s strategic programmes to ensure that its national security and international obligations remain doubtless and beyond reproach.
"It will be a sad day for the country for these individuals may have violated the national trust and confidence by jeopardising national security," commented a top source. "However, the authorities are determined not to let the country’s image and standing in the international community suffer on account of any individual."
Hectic assessment exercise is also put in place to gauge the damage these individuals might have caused to the country.
The ongoing probe and inquiry is also expected to focus not only on Pakistani nationals but also on a number of European sources and individuals without whose collaboration the illegal operations would not have been possible.
Evidence discovered in a probe of Iran's secret nuclear program points overwhelmingly to Pakistan as the source of crucial technology that put Iran on a fast track toward becoming a nuclear weapons power, according to U.S. and European officials familiar with the investigation.
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