• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pakistan rejects reports on US nuclear probe

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 7, IRNA -- Pakistan on Monday dismissed as "incorrect 
and unrealistic" a US magazine report that the US is investigating 
whether the founder of Pakistan`s nuclear program sold nuclear 
technology to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. 
"Time has distorted the facts and sensationalized them. There 
is no reality in the report and is not based on facts," Information 
Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Geo television. 
Time magazine, in its latest edition, also claimed that Pakistan`s
AQ Khan network of suppliers and middlemen is still operational. 
He said Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has admitted he provided information 
to three countries but that the Time story about his selling 
technology to Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries was incorrect. 
Rashid also rejected the magazine`s claim that some cylinders 
have disappeared from the Kahuta Research Laboratories (LRL), the 
country`s major nuclear facility. 
"We have checked all records and no cylinder is missing from 
the KRL. We are ready to remove apprehensions if there are any," the 
minister said. 
The magazine quoted sources as confirming that the US has 
submitted questions to Khan on whether the countries he allegedly 
provided nuclear secrets have sold such equipment to third parties. 
"We have solved Dr Qadeer Khan`s issue and he will not be handed 
over to any country," Rashid said. 
According to the official, there is no pressure on Pakistan over 
the issue and Pakistan is in touch with the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA). 
The report also said that although Washington has no concrete 
evidence that any of Khan`s clients have passed along nuclear 
technology and expertise to terrorist groups, they cannot rule out 
the possibility that Khan did business with Osama Bin Laden`s 
Al-Qaeda network. 
"Pakistan has a clear stand on the country`s sensitive and 
defense matters and the country is not under pressure," the minister 
added. "There should be no worry about it." 
US officials allege that several members of Pakistan`s military 
and intelligence establishment, which worked closely with Dr. Khan 
in his role as the government`s top nuclear scientist, may be 
sympathizers of the Al-Qaeda group. 
TK/TSH/2321/1432