Pakistan scientist sold nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran, Libya (he confessed)

National Business Review ^ | Feb. 1, 2004 | NBR

[FairOpinion]

Dr AQ Khan, a Pakistan national hero for having led the country into the elite club of the nuclear-armed, has confessed to selling nuclear weapons technology to North Korea, Iran and Libya.

The confession is contained in a 12 page document signed by Dr Khan on Sunday, Dawn reports. It came after a series of intense, two hour "debriefing" sessions and ended several months of denials by the scientist that he was the principal culprit in the illegal technology transfers.

The confession is the capstone in a pyramid of evidence collected over the past two months as Pakistan authorities targeted scientists within the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) during the investigation.

Citing what it calls "authoritative sources," Dawn says that the National Command Authority has yet to decide whether to formally charge Dr Khan and try him in court or simply take administrative steps against him.

A trial is seen as a high risk move and is the least likely option, observers say.

He was discharged from his position as adviser to the president on Saturday, only a day before the confession is said to have been signed.

Dr Khan's motivation in the sale of the technology -- without which, none of the three countries involved could have developed nuclear weapons programmes -- is said by Dawn's "authoritative sources" to have been personal gain.

But, they say, money wasn't all that was at issue, especially in the case of Iran and Libya, which are both Islamic countries.

Dr Khan, Dawn says, saw the development of weapons programmes in the three countries as developments that would take the heat off Pakistan to disarm by spreading the focus of Western forces committed to nuclear disarmament initiatives.

The Christian Science Monitor notes that the involvement of North Korea may have been a quid-pro-quo arrangement. It says Dr Khan is known to have visited North Korea 13 times in hopes of securing a swap of nuclear technology for ballistic missiles.

It says Dr Khan has long been seen by Western intelligence agencies as "a dangerous kind of A-bomb Johnny Appleseed - a man willing to share weapons secrets with anyone, for a price."

President Pervez Musharraf has said he will brief the country, in which Dr Khan is widely revered, during a televised adress following holy holidays later this week.

Meanwhile, at least six other suspects remain in custody: three KRL scientists close to Dr Khan (who is formally retired from the group) and three mid-level military officers.

[FairOpinion]

He is a traitor to his own country. Here is a scientist, who is considered a national hero, and is selling out his country's secrets...

[oceanview]

the CIA should have taken this guy out a long time ago, but the Clintonoids likely would not allow it. even now, he should be taken out.

[FairOpinion]

He is definitely toast now -- I think he is under arrest in Pakistan.

[BenR2]

Well, perhaps he may soon die "by accident."

[oceanview]

house arrest, unless that changes now. I have to give Musharaff credit, he apparently is really getting serious now. let's see if its not a shell game.

[nuconvert]

There was a report earlier today that they didn't know where he was. Did you read that one?

[nuconvert]

"has yet to decide whether to formally charge Dr Khan and try him in court or simply take administrative steps against him."

Hmm.....administrative steps? He loses his job and pension?

[NormsRevenge]

Is he a candidate for the ICJ or what?

Johnny Cochran could be his attorney and probably get him off.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

It came after a series of intense, two hour "debriefing" sessions

Perhaps Saddam should be "debriefed" in a similar manner. (Does "debrief" mean you yank off his jockey shorts?)

[FairOpinion]

"they didn't know where he was. Did you read that one?"

==

No -- I thought he was in custody or at least house arrest.

[VaBthang4]

"the CIA should have taken this guy out a long time ago..."

HERE HERE!

[nuconvert]

It's from this morning. Maybe they found him.


Pakistani Scientist Khan Untraceable

The Times of India ^ | Februari 01 2004 | PTI

Posted on 02/01/2004 6:18:42 AM PST by knighthawk

ISLAMABAD: A day after his sacking from the post of scientific advisor to the Prime Minister for his alleged involvement in the proliferation of sensitive nuclear technology to Iran and Libya, mystery shrouds the whereabouts of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Media reports on Sunday said confusion prevailed over the whereabouts of the scientist .

A Pakistan newspaper, which managed to speak to him briefly, said Khan declined to comment on reports of his arrest.

"I have left my matter to God," he reportedly told the newspaper.

When asked about his condition, he said, "I am all right and thankful to all my sympathisers".

The report said it was not known whether Dr. Khan was kept under house arrest.

[FairOpinion]

That must have been before they found him and he confessed.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Confession is good for the soul.

[nuconvert]

Wonder if he gets to keep all his "lovely parting gifts"
for confessing?

[spetznaz]

Now this is something i am having a hard time totally comprehending. Why is Musharaff even doing this? After all Khan is arguably the most admired and respected man in Pakistan, and greatly revered in the Islamic world. After all the dude was instrumental in the 'Islamic bomb' since he was the father of Pakistan's nuke industry.

By taking this dude on Musharaff has just signed his own death warrant. Now, what i would like to know is what happened to make Musharaff take such a stance? Is this tied to the assasination attempts on Musharaff's life some weeks ago? Has Musharaff decided to take on the 'hidden hand' in Pakistan, and risk not only the ISI but also the powerful clerics and the rabble? And why? Have we (the US) promised Musharaff prtection (although i really do not see what type of protection we could truly deliver while he is still in Pakistan)? Does Musharaff know what he just did, and if he does (and i am 100% sure he knows the sword of damocles that is dangling over his head), what measures has he taken to protect himself?

Will he be alive tomorrow ....the day after ...the week after?

And what is India's reaction? The reason i ask this is nowadays India seems to be supportive of Musharaff under the ol' 'better the devil i know' concept. If Musharaff is usurped/exiled/killed/killed-and-then-chopped-up etc etc then India faces the prospect of a new Pakistani leader who is a 'little loco' (read raging muslim nut) with his zealot thumb on the nuclear button.

However at the end the question is this .........why did Musharaff do this???? What prompted him?

Or maybe Musharaff is just a brave guy who did what had to be done ......but i do not think that is the case. There is something going on over there, and i just hope it does not blow up.

[neuron2]

Simple. He's trying to save his country from an Indo-American invasion.

[NormsRevenge]

Any one or all of your suppositions may be correct and apt to fit quite well the scenario playing out in Pakistan.

Musharraf is a "victim of circumstances" and is truly between a rock and a hard spot. And I agree, we could do much worse leader-wise in this turbulence tossed country that didn't exist all that many years ago.

He probably realizes he doesn't really have many friends per se, and may be trying to do the best he can in the circumstances, full well knowing he may meet the same fate as Sadat in the end, regardless of how he tries to steer his country away from confrontation from within and without.

Sad, but this is the world we live in.

[spetznaz]

Well, i think that the world would be much safer if all of Pakistan's nukes were removed, but i doubt Musharaff did that to avoid an Indo-American invasion ....especially the Indian part. Musharaff has been largely a buffer, basically keeping a potentially hyper-volatile situation just under its ignition point. If Musharaff goes India will be faced with the possibility that the new Pakiland leader will be an Islamic nut! They may (i emphasize may) decide to carry out a massive pre-emptive nuke strike in the hope of wiping out most or all of Pakistan's bombs. I do not think Mushy acting like a matyr will make things any better.

However at the same time i am glad Khan has been exposed.

Weird ....i am glad but also a bit troubled. Something complex is going on over there.

[nuconvert]

It has surprised me also. Musharraff definitely knows he's greatly increased the number of people PO'd at him who would like to shorten his presidency. When the story first broke, I didn't think anyone would Really go after Khan. But we'll still have to wait and see. It's sounds like his confession might have gotten him off the hook quite a bit. No trial....that's a big plus....gets it out of international headlines.
Keep in mind that U.S. and the rest of world, found out about Pakistan's nuc dealings, and with all the scientists being arrested and questioned, there really wasn't a whole lot Musharraff could do to protect Khan. The cat was already out of the bag. Now Musharraff's problem is..."what do I do with Khan?" Seems he may get light punishment since he confessed. It will be interesting......hope Musharraff has tripled his body guards and doesn't plan much travelling.