Friday, March 11, 2005
AQ Khan gave Iran centrifuges: Rashid
* Says his statement won’t affect Iran-EU N-programme negotiations * FO spokesman says Condoleezza expected in Pakistan on 17th
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had transferred nuclear centrifuges to Iran without the Pakistani government’s knowledge.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told reporters at a seminar that the Pakistani scientist had illegally delivered centrifuges and other nuclear technology to Iran.
This is the first time that a senior government official had publicly stated the nature of transferred nuclear technology. However, he did not say when the deliveries were made. Sheikh Rashid later told Daily Times that his statement would not negatively affect the current nuclear programme negotiations between Iran and the EU.
He told reporters that during the investigation by Pakistani authorities, AQ Khan had confessed to his crime. “He committed serious crimes, which he admitted during the course of the investigation,” he added. Ruling out handing over AQ Khan to a foreign intelligence agency or country for interrogation, he said Pakistani officials had not yet completed the investigation process.
AQ, who is credited for creating Pakistan’s nuclear bomb, admitted last year to transferring nuclear technology to several foreign countries. He also confessed not informing the Pakistani government of his actions.
Sheikh Rashid said it was an undeniable fact that AQ Khan had kept his activities secret from the government. He said the people of Pakistan must be told the truth about the transfer of nuclear technology from Pakistan.
He said the “super power” must understand that Pakistani agencies were handling the issue competently. However, he did say when the investigations would be complete. Asked to comment on the US’s opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme, the information minister said any decision involving Iran must be taken very carefully.
Jaleel Abbas, Foreign Office spokesman, told Daily Times that Pakistan had already shared the results of AQ Khan’s interrogation with international agencies. He said Pakistan supported the dialogue process wished that Iran’s nuclear issue would be resolved peacefully through negotiation. He said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to visit Pakistan on March 17.
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