Good reasons for implicating Pak in Iran nuke link: US expert
Washington, September 4
A leading expert of a US-based security think tank feels there are genuine reasons why Pakistan is being implicated by the international community for assisting in Iran's nuclear capability build-up.
"There are reasons why Pakistan is implicated. One is that the design of the centrifuge appears to be similar to that kind of centrifuge that we know Pakistan had in the late eighties, and which they (Iran) know they (Pakistan) actually acquired designs and information on how to build from Europe," Corey Hinderstein of the Institute for Science and International Security told ANI in an exclusive interview.
"There are some footsteps that would point to Pakistan. But, it's certainly not a completed investigation, and there are other countries from which this technology could also have arrived," Hinderstein added.
"I have not seen any evidence that they (Iran) have actually made the decision to go forward and actually build nuclear weapons, one, many, hundreds. But, what I am seeing, is that they are developing such a large infrastructure that if that decision was ever made, that they would be able to turn around, almost overnight, and have a tremendous nuclear capability," the expert told ANI.
Pakistan, Hinderstein said, has taken great strides in the field of nuclear technology, but it is difficult for such countries to maintain control or a cap on proliferation.
"I think that Pakistan has taken great strides, but unfortunately, it's almost impossible to put a lid on this sort of technology," he said.
His reactions assume significance in the wake of a Los Angeles Times report that suggests that Iran obtained key nuclear information and technology from Pakistan early last month, a charged rejected by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
On the dilemma faced by Washington vis-a-vis Islamabad's growing nuclear potential and its ability to help friendly countries in this sector, Hinderstein said: "I think they're (US) in quite a dilemma. They really rely on Pakistan to be a partner in the war on terrorism. Pakistan also has very few legal restrictions in the sense that they are not members of the NPT. They do not have International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards in place."
"So, while the IAEA is asking for their cooperation in researching what may have happened with regard to Iran, they have very little leverage on Pakistan, and it's up to Pakistan to come forward and maybe reveal some things that may be embarrassing to them.
This embarrassment is one that many countries have felt and we've already noted European countries, particularly Germany, were highly embarassed in the early nineties over revelations about the technology that got to Iraq. And, they had many more controls in place at that time than Pakistan had," he adds.
The reality is that the basics of building a nuclear bomb are fairly easily obtained in this Internet and global age. For now, the Bush Administration appears have put the war on terrorism higher on the agenda than the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Washington does not have many options when it comes to confronting Pakistan, Hinderstein opines.
He also believed that rather than focussing on Pakistan and India's nuclear capabilities, which had been openly announced in 1998, it would be more prudent to pay attention to other countries like Iran in the Asian region seeking to acquire these capabilities and to prevent them from reaching uncontrollable limits.
"Well, certainly, any active country has the potential to proliferate. And certainly we're worried about North Korea right now being able to export some of their technology right now. The nature of information and technology is very hard to regulate and hard to control," he said.
"Well, Pakistan and India have have been very open about the fact that they have nuclear weapons. Neither of them are members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_361996,00050002.htmTHURSDAY 04/09/2003 13:25:21
Blair warning to Iran
Tony Blair today issued a fresh warning to Iran to comply with international demands on nuclear weapons and cease support for terrorist groups.
The Prime Minister said Britain would remain critical of Tehran until it signed up to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and said his Government was under ``no illusions`` about their relationship.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to report next Monday on whether Iran is in breach of its international obligations. It has faced calls to open up its civil nuclear programme to international inspections amid fears that it is developing a bomb.
Mr Blair, speaking at his monthly Downing Street press conference, said: ``We have a policy of, I would describe it actually, as critical engagement (with Iran).
``We are engaged with Iran, we have a dialogue with their leadership, but we are under no illusions.
``It is important both that they adhere completely to the demands of the international community in respect of nuclear weapons and that they cease all support of terrorist groups.
``Until those two things are done, that engagement is going to remain critical.``
The Prime Minister`s warning is set to further sour relations between the two countries, already cooled by the recall of Iran`s ambassador to London this week over the detention of a diplomat wanted in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Argentina.
Yesterday shots were fired at the British embassy in Tehran in an incident which could be related to the row.
Morteza Sarmadi was recalled to Tehran after he failed to secure the release of Hade Soleimanpour during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Monday.
Although the Foreign Office has insisted Mr Sarmadi`s return to Iran did not amount to a downgrading of relations, the move is a severe disappointment to Mr Straw, who has been cultivating ties with his Iranian counterpart for the past two years.
Soleimanpour was detained following an extradition request from Argentina over the bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in 1994 when he was ambassador to the country.
Last week the career diplomat, who is still employed by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was refused bail despite his government offering £500,000 for his surety.
The extradition hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court had heard how Iranian President Ali Mohammed Khatami had demanded the release of Soleimanpour, 47, and an apology from the Government.
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