US wants to learn more about AQ Khan

Though Pakistan says AQ Khan’s issue is a 'closed chapter', the US still wants to learn more about the scientist’s proliferation network

NEW YORK: Pakistan maintains shrilly that the A Q Khan nuclear smuggling scandal is a ‘closed chapter’ but the US said on Monday that it found the matter of ‘continuing interest’ and was still plumbing the depth of the network.     

Khan’s bombshell allegations last week that North Korea received centrifuges from Pakistan in a 2000 shipment supervised by the Pakistan army during General Musharraf’s rule could prove deeply embarrassing for both the army and Musharraf.
“I am not going to get into any specific allegations, but certainly learning more about the work of A Q Khan and his network certainly is something we are interested in. It is a matter of continuing interest for us,” US State department spokesman Sean McCormack told a press briefing.

“We have learned a lot. The network is broken up. It is out of business. But I think we, as well as others, are still plumbing the extent of all A Q Khan, all of the network’s activities,” he added.

When asked if the US was urging Islamabad to allow it direct access to Khan, McCormack replied, “I do not know what the most recent discussions were about it. But I know it is a matter of continuing interest for us.”

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, turned frosty during a CNN interview on Sunday when he was asked about access to the Pakistani scientist; “AQ Khan does not enjoy any official status. The information that had to be extracted from him has been extracted, and that is as far as Pakistan is concerned, that is a closed chapter.”

Since a new civilian government took power after February, eclipsing Musharraf, Khan has spoken out and his recent claims contradict his 2004 confession that he was solely responsible for spreading nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Pakistan, however, denies its army or government knew about Khan’s nuclear proliferation activities.

India has always accused the world’s superpowers of turning a blind eye to nuclear trade in South Asia. It says there is ‘selective focus’ on the recipients of such clandestine proliferation but not enough attention on the sources of supply. A former Indian foreign minister once made it clear that disclosure of proliferation from Pakistan was one of the reasons India is staying away from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

McCormack also said the US had talked to Islamabad about its ‘deep concern about cross-border infiltration from Pakistan into Afghanistan, and then back over the border into Pakistan once again’.

“As you might imagine, it is a complicated issue, but it is fundamental to the security of both of those countries, because you have people operating out of Pakistan that pose a threat to Afghanistan.”

“Ultimately, too, let us remember that those kinds of groups, those kinds of individuals are not necessarily content to direct their energies outwardly, and they pose a real threat to Pakistan.”