Pakistan's information minister acknowledged on Thursday that a scientist at the heart of an international nuclear black market investigation gave centrifuges to Iran, but insisted the government had nothing to do with the transfer.
It was the first time the Pakistani government has admitted that Abdul Qadeer Khan actually gave material to Iran, although it has said in the past that his criminal group sold technology and blueprints to several countries.
"Dr. Abdul Qadeer gave some centrifuges to Iran," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. "He helped Iran in his personal capacity, and the Pakistan government had nothing to do with it."
Mr. Ahmed originally made the comments at a seminar in Islamabad organized by a local newspaper group, in which he stuck by Pakistan's insistence that, despite his crimes, Dr. Khan would never be handed over to a third country for prosecution.
"I support the idea that the government should tell the people about these sensitive matters," Mr. Ahmed said in a speech at the seminar, an audio tape of which was also obtained by the AP. "I am not a spokesman for a cowardly nation. Yes, we supplied Iran the centrifuge system. Yes, Dr. Qadeer gave Iran this technology. But we are not going to hand over Dr. Qadeer to any one. We will not."
Source: WSJ
It was the first time the Pakistani government has admitted that Abdul Qadeer Khan actually gave material to Iran, although it has said in the past that his criminal group sold technology and blueprints to several countries.
"Dr. Abdul Qadeer gave some centrifuges to Iran," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the Associated Press in a telephone interview. "He helped Iran in his personal capacity, and the Pakistan government had nothing to do with it."
Mr. Ahmed originally made the comments at a seminar in Islamabad organized by a local newspaper group, in which he stuck by Pakistan's insistence that, despite his crimes, Dr. Khan would never be handed over to a third country for prosecution.
"I support the idea that the government should tell the people about these sensitive matters," Mr. Ahmed said in a speech at the seminar, an audio tape of which was also obtained by the AP. "I am not a spokesman for a cowardly nation. Yes, we supplied Iran the centrifuge system. Yes, Dr. Qadeer gave Iran this technology. But we are not going to hand over Dr. Qadeer to any one. We will not."
Source: WSJ
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