Now, this embarassing episode is back to haunt Pakistan President Musharraf. A UK based think-tank; the International Institute of Strategic Studies has handed over a vital dossier on Khan to Islamabad.
The 176 page dossier contains information of the kind of nuclear details Khan provided Iran including an 'address book' of suppliers which helped Tehran to make significant advances in its secret nuclear programme.
Pakistani President General Parvez Musharraf finds himself in a spot yet again and this time it is over tainted nuclear scientist AQ Khan. A new report suggests that the scientist had complete freedom in all his dealings and was never reigned in by the President.
AQ Khan, considered the father of Pakistan's nuclear programme, is accused of leaking nuclear know-how to Iran and helping them to build their nuclear arsenal.
Now, this embarassing episode is back to haunt Pakistan President Musharraf. A UK based think-tank; the International Institute of Strategic Studies has handed over a vital dossier on Khan to Islamabad.
The 176 page dossier contains information of the kind of nuclear details Khan provided Iran including an 'address book' of suppliers which helped Tehran to make significant advances in its secret nuclear programme.
According to the report, Khan could have earned millions of dollars through this clandestine deal with Iran but there is no information where the money had gone after Khan was placed under house arrest after he confessed to leaking state secrets. The report also says that Dr Khan was able to engage in a great deal of freelance activity because he was largely uncontrolled. There was a lack of checks, a lack of command and control over much of his activities.
This is damning report that Musharraf will find tough to palate. However, there is some relief for him as the inquiry finds no plausible evidence that could suggest that Khan acted on the behest of Pakistan.
Now in many of the cases, some high government officials knew about what he was doing or at least had a general knowledge. And in some cases there was some encouragement on individual basis. But its not the case that he was selling nuclear technology to Libya particularly under government instruction.
It is now Islamabad's turn to react. After all despite, Khan's confessions, he was pardoned by the Pakistan government and now the pressure is certain to build up.
