Nuke Experts Detained/Pakistan probes 2 scientists' ties to Taliban

New York Daily News ^ | 10/26/01 | RICHARD WHITBY

[kattracks]

wo of Pakistan's top atomic scientists were grilled yesterday about possible contacts with Afghanistan's Taliban rulers amid reports Osama Bin Laden had obtained nuclear material.

Sultan Bashiru-Din Mehmood, one of the founders of the country's nuclear program, was detained Tuesday in Lahore, Interior Ministry officials said on condition of anonymity. They said Abdul Majid, a scientist who worked with Mehmood at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, also was being held.

"The investigation has nothing to do with the nuclear program," said Rashid Qureshi, a Pakistani military spokesman.

However, the Interior Ministry officials said the men were questioned about possible links to Afghan officials, including Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. Neither had been charged with a crime.

In Britain, The Times newspaper and Channel Four television news quoted Western intelligence sources as saying Bin Laden, a Saudi-born terrorism mastermind, had obtained nuclear material from Pakistan.

Citing an informed source, the Times said Bin Laden appeared to have amassed a "terrifying" range of weapons.

The Taliban, who have given refuge to Bin Laden since 1996, were put in power by Pakistan and have had close ties with its intelligence agencies.

The Western sources said Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network did not have the technology to make a nuclear bomb.

But they said they were worried Bin Laden could produce a "dirty bomb" — one that would disperse radioactive material across a small urban area rather than creating a nuclear explosion — killing hundreds or thousands rather than millions.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said this week Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe.

"There is no question of them falling into the wrong hands," he said in a statement. "The strategic capability is fully safeguarded."

Mahmood's work in the nuclear program culminated in a successful bomb test in 1998, after India — with whom Pakistan has fought three wars — announced its own nuclear capability.

He retired from the Atomic Energy Commission three years ago and has been running a relief organization in Afghanistan. Six other people from the organization also had been detained, Pakistani officials said.

Both President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have given regular warnings that Bin Laden would wreak greater destruction if he could.

But Blair's office urged the public yesterday not to be unduly worried.

"We believe that Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network would, if they could, develop a nuclear capability, but people should treat with extreme skepticism any reports that he has such a capability," a spokesman said.

With News Wire Services

[piasa]

fyi

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!