Pakistan denies nuclear black market still active
ISN SECURITY WATCH (06/01/06) – Reports from European spy agencies insist that the nuclear black market network of Pakistani scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan is still actively involved in the illegal transfer of technology, while Islamabad claims it has broken up the network.
Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, quoting from a 55-page intelligence assessment drafted with British, French, German, and Belgian knowledge, contradicted the Pakistani government’s claims.
Though the report admits that Khan is under house arrest and several of his collaborators in Europe have been arrested in Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa, it claims that “since the beginning of 2004, extensive procurement efforts for the Pakistani nuclear sector have been registered”.
The Guardian reported that the range of materials and components being bought “clearly exceeds” requirements for spare parts and replacements in Islamabad’s nuclear program, indicating that “the nuclear black market is trading on the surplus goods”.
Flanked by his visiting Japanese counterpart, Taro Aso, in Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters: “Pakistan has taken all appropriate action in dismantling the underground network.” He said the Pakistani nuclear hero had fallen from grace and had been treated “very harshly”.
Pakistani military president General Pervez Musharraf admitted last August that the country’s one-time leading nuclear scientist had sold centrifuges and other items that can be used to make nuclear weapons to North Korea.
Khan admitted in 2004 to selling nuclear technology and equipment to North Korea, Iran, and Libya while serving as the nation’s top nuclear scientist. He was fired from his position, but pardoned for his acts after suffering a major heart attack.
Khan served as Pakistan’s top nuclear expert until 2001.
The foreign minister said Islamabad was seeking a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue within the framework of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kasuri told reporters that Islamabad had already shared information with Japan, the US, and several European countries on the issue of the nuclear black market.
A senior government official requesting anonymity told ISN Security Watch: “The government has shared information with Washington and the IAEA in greater detail, which has lead to the arrest of various black-market operatives in Europe and elsewhere.”
Asked whether any key figure had been arrested on Pakistani soil, the official said: “Many individuals, including some leading low-profile scientists, have been questioned, but their identities could not be disclosed for a variety of reasons.”
He said he believed that information shared by Islamabad had been helpful in identifying and locating various key players in the illicit trafficking of nuclear technology. In particular, he referred to two arrests made last year in South Africa and Western Europe, though he could not identify those arrested.
At the same time, Pakistan and Japan have agreed to form a working group for discussions on disarmament, nonproliferation, dual-use nuclear technology, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear safety, and space technology. The body plans to meet annually.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori hinted that his country might support Pakistan in the peaceful development of nuclear technology in exchange for more information on the nuclear black market.
In September, Pakistan sought peaceful nuclear cooperation with the US, EU, Japan, and China, owing to fears of serious energy shortfalls beyond the year 2010.
India has successfully sought US nuclear cooperation, while a similar Pakistani request has not been considered.
Britain’s Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Pakistan was in talks to buy as many as eight nuclear reactors from China for up to US$10 billion. Pakistan already has one Canadian and two Chinese nuclear power plants for power generation.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam confirmed that Islamabad was interested in buying nuclear reactors from China and elsewhere, but disputed the number of reactors published in the FT report.
“The Pakistani economy is growing, and so [are] its energy requirements. Like every sovereign state, we, too, have a right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” said the spokesperson.
Diplomatic sources told ISN Security Watch that Beijing was considering Islamabad’s request for more nuclear reactors.
According to Khan, Pakistan first enriched uranium on 4 April 1978 at the Khan Research Laboratories, in Kahuta, which was producing substantial quantities of uranium by 1981. Pakistan, which tested nuclear devices in 1998, is believed to possess some 50 nuclear weapons of varying size and launch capability. Khan designed that program.
Khan, 69, is restricted to his Islamabad house under tight security. Islamabad has even refused IAEA access to the former head of its nuclear program. He now suffers from various ailments, including chronic high blood pressure.
(By Naveed Ahmad in Islamabad)
Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, quoting from a 55-page intelligence assessment drafted with British, French, German, and Belgian knowledge, contradicted the Pakistani government’s claims.
Though the report admits that Khan is under house arrest and several of his collaborators in Europe have been arrested in Germany, Switzerland, and South Africa, it claims that “since the beginning of 2004, extensive procurement efforts for the Pakistani nuclear sector have been registered”.
The Guardian reported that the range of materials and components being bought “clearly exceeds” requirements for spare parts and replacements in Islamabad’s nuclear program, indicating that “the nuclear black market is trading on the surplus goods”.
Flanked by his visiting Japanese counterpart, Taro Aso, in Islamabad, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters: “Pakistan has taken all appropriate action in dismantling the underground network.” He said the Pakistani nuclear hero had fallen from grace and had been treated “very harshly”.
Pakistani military president General Pervez Musharraf admitted last August that the country’s one-time leading nuclear scientist had sold centrifuges and other items that can be used to make nuclear weapons to North Korea.
Khan admitted in 2004 to selling nuclear technology and equipment to North Korea, Iran, and Libya while serving as the nation’s top nuclear scientist. He was fired from his position, but pardoned for his acts after suffering a major heart attack.
Khan served as Pakistan’s top nuclear expert until 2001.
The foreign minister said Islamabad was seeking a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue within the framework of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kasuri told reporters that Islamabad had already shared information with Japan, the US, and several European countries on the issue of the nuclear black market.
A senior government official requesting anonymity told ISN Security Watch: “The government has shared information with Washington and the IAEA in greater detail, which has lead to the arrest of various black-market operatives in Europe and elsewhere.”
Asked whether any key figure had been arrested on Pakistani soil, the official said: “Many individuals, including some leading low-profile scientists, have been questioned, but their identities could not be disclosed for a variety of reasons.”
He said he believed that information shared by Islamabad had been helpful in identifying and locating various key players in the illicit trafficking of nuclear technology. In particular, he referred to two arrests made last year in South Africa and Western Europe, though he could not identify those arrested.
At the same time, Pakistan and Japan have agreed to form a working group for discussions on disarmament, nonproliferation, dual-use nuclear technology, the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nuclear safety, and space technology. The body plans to meet annually.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori hinted that his country might support Pakistan in the peaceful development of nuclear technology in exchange for more information on the nuclear black market.
In September, Pakistan sought peaceful nuclear cooperation with the US, EU, Japan, and China, owing to fears of serious energy shortfalls beyond the year 2010.
India has successfully sought US nuclear cooperation, while a similar Pakistani request has not been considered.
Britain’s Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Pakistan was in talks to buy as many as eight nuclear reactors from China for up to US$10 billion. Pakistan already has one Canadian and two Chinese nuclear power plants for power generation.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam confirmed that Islamabad was interested in buying nuclear reactors from China and elsewhere, but disputed the number of reactors published in the FT report.
“The Pakistani economy is growing, and so [are] its energy requirements. Like every sovereign state, we, too, have a right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” said the spokesperson.
Diplomatic sources told ISN Security Watch that Beijing was considering Islamabad’s request for more nuclear reactors.
According to Khan, Pakistan first enriched uranium on 4 April 1978 at the Khan Research Laboratories, in Kahuta, which was producing substantial quantities of uranium by 1981. Pakistan, which tested nuclear devices in 1998, is believed to possess some 50 nuclear weapons of varying size and launch capability. Khan designed that program.
Khan, 69, is restricted to his Islamabad house under tight security. Islamabad has even refused IAEA access to the former head of its nuclear program. He now suffers from various ailments, including chronic high blood pressure.
(By Naveed Ahmad in Islamabad)
posted by Marko at 1/07/2006 02:32:00 AM
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