New Evidence Reveals Pakistan Efforts To Proliferate Nuke Tech

A.Q. Khan, right, poses for a photo with Simon Henderson, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The photo was provided exclusively to Fox News.

EXCLUSIVE: New A.Q. Khan Documents Suggest Pakistan Spread Nuclear Weapon Technology -- FOX News

Documents obtained by Fox News suggest that for decades Pakistan spread nuclear weapon technology around the globe in exchange for cash, political influence and help with its own atomic bomb program. Among those on the other side of the deals: China, Iran, North Korea and Libya.

The charges are contained in two documents written by A.Q. Khan, the Pakistani nuclear arms trafficker long thought to be the mastermind behind an elaborate global supply and procurement network: a thirteen-page confession to government authorities and a dramatic letter hastily written to his wife as an international manhunt tightened around him.

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Update: ‘Pakistan cashed in on N-technology’ -- Pakistan Today

My Comment: What other secrets is A.Q. Khan not telling us? .... makes you wonder.

Pakistan's Rush To Finish A Weapons-Grade Nuclear Reactor Caught By Satellite Images

Alarming: The rate of construction at the Khushab nuclear facility has 'raised eyebrows' with US officials

Satellite Images Reveal Alarming Speed Pakistan Is Rushing To Finish Weapons-Grade Nuclear Reactor -- Daily Mail

New satellite images have shown the alarming speed at which Pakistan is constructing a weapons-grade nuclear reactor.

The aerial images, taken on April 20, show the rapid building progress of the fourth reactor to produce plutonium in Pakistan's Khushab facility.

The site was barren in 2009 and the facility 'costing billions' was undetectable by satellite just 17 months ago, but has since grown at an alarming rate.

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My Comment: Why the rush?

Pakistan Believes They Can Sell Nuclear Security To The World

Pakistan is ready to share with nations its competence in the area of nuclear security, particularly prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking, said the paper Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani presented at one of the sessions at the Washington summit earlier this week. Photo by Reuters

Pakistan Also Offers Nuclear Security Skills To World -- Dawn

WASHINGTON: In a policy paper presented to leaders from nearly 50 nations, Pakistan offered to share with other states its nuclear security skills, particularly in prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking.

In a similar document, presented at the Washington nuclear security summit, which ended on Tuesday, Pakistan declared that it had acquired advanced nuclear fuel cycle capability and can offer it to the rest of the world under IAEA safeguards.

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My Comment: They do have the experience and know how .... especially since they are surrounded by Al Qaeda, Taliban, Islamic extremists, and a whole host of other groups that want to have a Pak nuke or two.

Pakistan Admits That U.S. Aid Was Used To Build Nuclear Weapons

Mr Musharraf says he acted in the best interest of Pakistan.
Photo form The BBC

Musharraf Admits US Aid Diverted To Nuke Program -- The Long War Journal

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has admitted to what many of us have known for some time: Pakistan has diverted US aid - money that was intended to be used to fight al Qaeda and the Taliban - to programs designed to strengthen the military against India. From The Times of India:

Musharraf admitted that he had violated rules governing the use of the military aid, and justified his actions by saying he had "acted in the best interest of Pakistan."

In an interview with a news channel, he said he "did not care" whether the US would be angered by his disclosure.

The former military ruler, who resigned as President in August last year to avoid impeachment, said he was not ready to compromise on Pakistan's interests.

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More News On Pakistan's Admission Of Using U.S. Aid Money To Target India And Support Its Nuclear Program

Musharraf admits US aid diverted -- BBC
Musharraf confirms India's fear on US aid to Pak: Tharoor -- Indian Express
US funds were diverted to strengthen defence against India: Musharraf -- Times of India
Musharraf costs UK £25,000 a day -- Daily Times

My Comment: The key quote from Musharraf is the following ....

.... In an interview with a news channel, he said he "did not care" whether the US would be angered by his disclosure ....

With allies like this, who needs enemies.

Taliban/Al Qaeda Has Attacked Pakistan's Nuclear Facilities 3 Times In 2 Years

Pakistan's Sargodha Nuclear Facility (Image from Bharat Rakshak)

Jihadis Thrice Attacked Pakistan Nuclear Sites -- Times Of India

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's nuclear facilities have already been attacked at least thrice by its home-grown extremists and terrorists in little reported incidents over the last two years, even as the world remains divided over the safety and security of the nuclear weapons in the troubled country, according to western analysts.

The incidents, tracked by Shaun Gregory, a professor at Bradford University in UK, include an attack on the nuclear missile storage facility at Sargodha on November 1, 2007, an attack on Pakistan's nuclear airbase at Kamra by a suicide bomber on December 10, 2007, and perhaps most significantly the August 20, 2008 attack when Pakistani Taliban suicide bombers blew up several entry points to one of the armament complexes at the Wah cantonment, considered one of Pakistan's main nuclear weapons assembly.

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Update #1: Report: Pakistan Nuclear Facilities Attacked at Least Three Times by Terrorists -- FOX News

My Comment: The only reports of these attacks is coming from the Indian media and FOX News (which only quotes the Times of India story).

I am sure that there will be more coverage in the next few hours, and we will update this story as news reports come in.

My personal take .... I am not surprised. These Pakistani military installations have always been prime targets for Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists. My biggest concern has never been on a frontal attack on these installations .... my fears have always been on the sympathizers within these installations who may be conducting themselves to assist these terror groups to get their hands on nuclear materials.

Pakistan Nuclear Projects Raise US Fears

Click The Image To Enlarge
Image from Global Security

From The Guardian:

• Two reactors nearing completion at Khushab
• Report questions security of nuclear material

Pakistan is continuing to expand its nuclear bomb-making facilities despite growing international concern that advancing Islamist extremists could overrun one or more of its atomic weapons plants or seize sufficient radioactive material to make a dirty bomb, US nuclear experts and former officials say.

David Albright, previously a senior weapons inspector for the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency in Iraq, said commercial satellite photos showed two plutonium-producing reactors were nearing completion at Khushab, about 160 miles south-west of the capital, Islamabad.

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My Comment: These fears are completely justified. Theft of enough nuclear material to produce a dirty bomb would have profound geopolitical consequences that would be unprecedented in its outcry and reaction. The U.S. understands this .... but Pakistan is going down a different road .... hence the concern.

Russia Considers Pakistan Its Principal Nuclear Threat: Expert

From Press Trust India:

Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) Describing Pakistan as the "principal" nuclear threat to Russia, an eminent foreign policy and security expert has claimed that Moscow would support any US endeavour to take away Islamabad's atomic weapons in case of any destabilisation in the Islamic nation.

"Russian authorities for many years have been indicating that Pakistan was a much more serious problem, both for nuclear proliferation and for nuclear terrorism, than Iran," Alexei Arbatov, Chairman of the Non-Proliferation Programme of Carnegie Moscow Centre, said at a recent seminar here.

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My Comment: The Russians have good reasons to be concerned. Pakistan is not only imploding, but the ones who will have control of its nuclear stockpile have close ties to the same Islamic extremists that Russia is fighting against in the Caucasus and other predominantly Muslim regions of its country.

Russia is not the only country that should be concerned .... India is naturally worried, but it is us in the West who should be the ones who are really worried.

US Sanctions Those Tied To Pakistani Scientist

Abdul Qadeer Khan

From International Herald Tribune:

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday slapped sanctions on people and companies connected to the black market nuclear network led by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

U.S. officials called the sanctions "a warning to other would-be proliferators" and urged the world to "remain vigilant" to make sure Khan's associates are stopped from leaking sensitive nuclear information or equipment in the future.

The State and Treasury Departments said the United States had placed sanctions on 13 people and three private companies for their involvement in Khan's network, which leaked atomic secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

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