ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, who developed the Muslim world's first nuclear bomb and later confessed to leaking weapons technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya, is battling prostate cancer, the government said Tuesday.
The announcement could lead to renewed calls for Pakistan to let the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency question the 70-year-old scientist over his international black market dealings _ a request that Pakistan's government reiterated it would refuse.
Khan was diagnosed with cancer earlier this month following a routine examination, according to a Ministry of Information statement that gave no details about his condition.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Khan would be provided "the best medical care" in Pakistan and would not go abroad for treatment.
Pakistan launched a formal investigation into Khan's dealings in 2003 after the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, wrote a letter to Pakistan saying that Khan was operating a black market in weapons technology and know-how.
Pakistan's government maintains it was not aware of his dealings, but has repeatedly refused to allow the IAEA to question him, and Aslam said that would not change.
"We have conducted our investigation. We have shared the results with the IAEA and third countries," she said. "If any questions come up, they should be given to the government of Pakistan and we would investigate and provide a response."
Patrick Cronin, director of studies at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, said Khan's condition would lead to renewed calls for access to the scientist that Pakistan would be highly unlikely to allow.
"In terms of critical information that would be lost forever once he goes, that's something that's going to be of considerable concern for security officials around the world who are going to press Islamabad again for further access to A.Q. Khan," he said by telephone.
Extra plainclothes security officers were posted outside Khan's plush villa in Islamabad, where he has been under virtual house arrest since he confessed in early 2004 to leaking sensitive nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
Khan, who was pardoned by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is still regarded as a national hero by many Pakistanis because of his role in developing a nuclear capability to match that of rival India.
Khan was shifted to his home from a hospital Monday, according to a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment. It wasn't clear how long Khan had been at the hospital, which is located at a nuclear research facility near Islamabad named after him: Khan Research Laboratories.
The only person in Pakistan's history to have been awarded its highest civilian award twice, Khan has not been seen in public since his confinement _ other than when he's sitting on the verandah of his villa.
Friends and associates were quick to wish a speedy recovery for the scientist, who also suffered a minor cardiac problem in June 2005.
"We had apprehensions about his health. He had regular checkups. He was suffering from things you get in depression, but we have never heard of his cancer. This is very sudden," said Hussam-ul Haq, who is the brother of Khan's former secretary.
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Associated Press Writer Munir Ahmad contributed to this report.
