The Hindu : N-links: Pak. probe at 'conclusive stage'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004

International

International

N-links: Pak. probe at 'conclusive stage'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 19. The ongoing probe by Pakistan into the alleged nuclear links of its scientists to Iran is getting curiouser and curiouser. Last weekend, investigating agencies have picked up eight more officials including the personal secretary to the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, A.Q. Khan.

The Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, tied himself in knots in the face of a volley of questions. First he said it was part of the `routine de-briefing' but a little later termed as `investigation' without elaborating. When asked how long the de-briefing would go on as it was over a month since it started originally, Mr. Khan said it had reached a `conclusive stage'.

He was at pains to emphasise that de-briefing of scientists and officials working in the key uranium enrichment facility, Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), does not mean they are guilty on any count. "All we could say at the moment is de-briefing sessions are continuing".

Asked to define de-briefing, the spokesman said, "It means securing information".

Mr. Khan had earlier disclosed that the de-briefing session was a sequel to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran sharing information with the Government of Pakistan. However, he was not willing to go into the details.

Besides, the authorities are questioning the personal secretary of Dr. Khan, two scientists and five other officials of the KRL. Three of those held are former military officers.

Pakistan has been accused over the past year that its scientists passed on nuclear knowledge to Iran, North Korea and Libya in violation of nuclear non-proliferation commitments. In the face of continuing allegations, Islamabad asserted that the Government had never proliferated but certain individuals could be guilty on that count due to greed.

Abdul Qadeer Khan, credited as the father of Pakistan's nuclear programme, and two KRL directors were among those questioned in recent weeks over alleged leaks to Iran. Asked if Dr. Khan had been cleared of all suspicions, the Foreign Office spokesman merely said certain questions had been put to him and the process was still on.

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