Pakistan’s Nuclear Export

The New York Times has an important article about Pakistan’s ties to nuclear programs in a number of countries.

The Pakistani leaders who denied for years that scientists at the country’s secret A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories were peddling advanced nuclear technology must have been averting their eyes from a most conspicuous piece of evidence: the laboratory’s own sales brochure, quietly circulated to aspiring nuclear weapons states and a network of nuclear middlemen around the world.

The cover bears an official-looking seal that says “Government of Pakistan” and a photograph of the father of the Pakistani bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan. It promotes components that were spinoffs from Pakistan’s three-decade-long project to build a nuclear stockpile of enriched uranium, set in a drawing that bears a striking resemblance to a mushroom cloud.

I don’t see the mushroom cloud in that brochure and in fact find the mention of the brochure without a high quality image and a description of what parts it shows to be a big distraction. This part of the article is just plain stupid. The A. Q. Khan Research Labs might have been marketing nuclear technology but that brochure as shown does not prove it. On the other hand, Dr. A.Q. Khan has always struck me as a megalomaniac and so this doesn’t seem out of character for him.

As investigators unravel the mysteries of the North Korean, Iranian and now the Libyan nuclear projects, Pakistan —- and those it empowered with knowledge and technology they are now selling on their own —- has emerged as the intellectual and trading hub of a loose network of hidden nuclear proliferators.

That network is global, stretching from Germany to Dubai and from China to South Asia, and involves many middlemen and suppliers. But what is striking about a string of recent disclosures, experts say, is how many roads appear ultimately to lead back to the Khan Research Laboratories in Kahuta, where Pakistan’s own bomb was developed.

If all this turns out to be true (and right now it does look likely), it was extremely stupid of Pakistan’s nuclear establishment.

These nuclear ties are all a part of the dirty world of weapons export. It is an old game now being played with extremely deadly stakes. If you looked at the ties between countries for weapons purchase and selling, you’ll find that everyone is linked to everyone else through middlemen and other countries. Even when countries don’t have formal relations or are on bad terms, there is still a weapons link between them. A small example from the NY Times article: It talks about Libya financing Pakistan’s nuclear program and supplying it with uranium ore in the late 1970s. Around the same time, Libya was also supporting the Bhuttos against Pakistan’s military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq. Libyan support included financing Al-Zulfiqar, a terrorist organization led by Prime Minister Bhutto’s sons. Bhutto had been deposed by Zia and was executed after a murder trial in 1979.

Near the end of the article, there is an important point about the spread of nuclear weapons.

Dr. ElBaradei estimates that 35 to 40 nations now have the knowledge to build an atomic weapon. In place of the nonproliferation treaty, which he calls obsolete, he proposes revising the world’s system to place any facilities that can manufacture fissile material under multinational control.

“Unless you are able to control the actual acquisition of weapon-usable material, you are not able to control proliferation,” he said in recent interview. But Mr. Bush and the leaders of the other established nuclear states are reluctant to renegotiate a stronger treaty because it will reopen the question of why some states are permitted to hold nuclear weapons and others are not.

For now the world is left watching a terrifying race —- one that pits scientists, middlemen and extremists against Western powers trying to intercept, shipload by shipload, the technology as it spreads through the clandestine network.

I think that nuclear weapons will spread. Probably by 2050, 30—50 countries will have nuclear weapons. The era of nonproliferation is over. We need alternatives. Don’t ask me for any solutions. I don’t have any.

UPDATE: The brochure story seemed a bit familiar. And it should be since it is a year old. I blogged about it last year.

By Zack

Dad, gadget guy, bookworm, political animal, global nomad, cyclist, hiker, tennis player, photographer

16 comments

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  2. I agree that the mere existence of such a brochure doesn’t prove anything. You could probably find similar looking brochures from Los Alamos National Lab, in fact.

  3. Story of Brochure is fake like the old movie “Islamic Bomb”. I was in Germany in those days. The man shown in the movie had no connection with the nuclear development. By chance he was also in Germany in those days and had asked me to see the movie. Both of us being government servents used to meet each other in Embassy celebrations like Pakistan Day, etc.
    During early 1960’s America wanted Pakistan to buy American small arms (per force). Pakistan wanted to develop the manufaturing facility which enoyed America and the result: America secretly helped India in 1965 war.
    Another: Embargo on libyan crude oil only enabled America to puchase the same in higher quantities and lower rates through Mallta.
    This has become a world of propaganda. One who has large and effective propaganda machinery is the winner. Mass killing of innocent people is named libration and democracy reason is said to be WMD proof of which is propaganda and more propaganda..

  4. A Pakistani,

    So you are saying that Pakistan has not helped any other country develop nuclear weapons? How do you know?

  5. Anon !
    Proof of a child not-having-born is that the child has not born. Throwing a doll near a house does not become proof of child birth.

  6. These nuclear ties are all a part of the dirty world of weapons export. It is an old game now being played with extremely deadly stakes. If you looked at the ties between countries for weapons purchase and selling, you’ll find that everyone is linked to everyone else through middlemen and other countries. Even when countries don’t have formal relations or are on bad terms, there is still a weapons link between them

    Excellent point, many of these links are quite limited and strictly short-term in nature. Substantial attempts at nuclear collaboration for weaponisation, have as far as I know, always been rebuffed even amongst ideologically similar states. One thinks of US unwillingness to help France and the UK to cross the threshold in the 1950s and even more recently persistent Pakistani refusal to do a deal on this technology with Iran or Saudi Arabia. The only real solid links have been in the field of missile technology with Chinese technical know-how being transmitted through NK. India obtained a good chunk from Russia; and when the US vetoed the sale of some aspects like cryogenic rocket propulsion, it was developed indigenously which took more time but was still do-able.

    I think that nuclear weapons will spread. Probably by 2050, 30-50 countries will have nuclear weapons. The era of nonproliferation is over.

    Oh yes, more so I think some state clearly have the technical ability as ZA, but have voluntarily dismantled their programmes. As the Indian case shows, though, this is bascially a dual use-type technology and once this type of knowledge is acquired it is simply a matter of choice as to whether it is used for military purposes or not. My calculation is that Iran has already made the strategic decision to acquire this capability and while it will put its programme on hold to assuage the fears of external observers, it will not deviate from this path willingly, barring either a significant internal revolution in how its polity operates or a massive change in the external security environment. It is very much a matter of time.

    We need alternatives. Don’t ask me for any solutions. I don’t have any.

    Too right; I have always opposed the use and development of this type of weaponry; it has always seemed counter-productive to me and a flawed way of achieving security as well as a myopic option to pursue. But it always plays well with the jingoistic crowd and those eager to pander to cheap hyper-nationalist sentiments. Proliferation, in a rather twisted way will force a more realistic and balanced consideration of alternative security structures to be thought about; though we will still be some way off from actually building them.

  7. AS NOW THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN IS SAYING THAT SOME OF THE SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE GIVEN OUT THE INFORMATION , SO WHAT’S WRONG IN IT THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP THEIR NEIBHOURS, AS USA IS HELPING ISRAEAL TO KILL INNOCENT PALESTINEANS BY GIVING THEM ALMOST 3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR , NO BODY SAYS ANY THING THERE, SO WHAY IS THE WHOLE WORLD AFTER MUSLIMS.

  8. AS NOW THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN IS SAYING THAT SOME OF THE SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE GIVEN OUT THE INFORMATION , SO WHAT’S WRONG IN IT THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP THEIR NEIBHOURS, AS USA IS HELPING ISRAEAL TO KILL INNOCENT PALESTINEANS BY GIVING THEM ALMOST 3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR , NO BODY SAYS ANY THING THERE, SO WHAY IS THE WHOLE WORLD AFTER MUSLIMS.

  9. shak/USPakistani: First, please don’t write in all CAPS. It is considered rude.

    What’s wrong in it

    According to Pakistani government claims, the scientists gave the technology in their individual capacity. If nothing else, I think that violates a bunch of Pakistani laws.

    JUST TRYING TO HELP THEIR NEIBHOURS

    Do you know what can happen with the spread of nuclear weapons? These are dangerous games to play. Also, Pakistan and Iran aren’t the best of friends; they have clashed over Afghan policy as well as Shia-Sunni issues. What is the guarantee that Iran won’t use this Pakistan-given technology as a threat against Pakistan itself?

    USA IS HELPING ISRAEAL … BY GIVING THEM ALMOST 3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR

    The US also gives aid to a number of other countries, including a large chunk of money to Egypt, a Muslim country.

    Discussion about US aid is a valid topic but I don’t think it has anything to do with nuclear proliferation.

  10. Mr Khan who has accepted guilt in proliferation should have been locked up and the key thrown away – although if it was upto me I would have him hanged,drawn and ….. This man is a traitor whose motivation was greed and in doing so he compromised Pakistan.Anybody else who has engaged in similar practice should also face the music but Pakistan being Pakistan where half the population live in altered reality he is pardoned and is still a hero.
    I do understand though why Musharaf had no choice but to pardon him unless he wanted a giant riot.

  11. Mr Khan who has accepted guilt in proliferation should have been locked up and the key thrown away – although if it was upto me I would have him hanged,drawn and ….. This man is a traitor whose motivation was greed and in doing so he compromised Pakistan.Anybody else who has engaged in similar practice should also face the music but Pakistan being Pakistan where half the population live in altered reality he is pardoned and is still a hero.
    I do understand though why Musharaf had no choice but to pardon him unless he wanted a giant riot.

  12. Eagle: I am still extremely skeptical of Abdul Qadeer Khan doing this without government knowledge at the very least. That makes Musharraf’s response more understandable in my opinion.

  13. Yes, there is a strong possibilty that others were involved BUT thats just a assumption.At this point fact is Mr Khan has admited in front of the world in doing so he has fallen foul of a whole host of laws.This man comes on national TV admits to sale of what was in fact state property ( KRL was not his private facility )and then has the galls to say ” Oh I did it in good faith” …… only in Pakistan can this happen.

  14. Why britian gave heavy water to israeal without any reason many years ago?Now israeal is threat to many nations including us,Who is responsible for that?If pakistan is giving neuclear technology to other it is the same like britian did some decade ago.

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