The 7 February statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Massod Khan, that the investigations regarding the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology (PNWT) as an internal matter of Pakistan attract immediate attention. It can be interpreted as the latest Pakistani effort to stop the internationalisation of proliferation, an issue, which has generated a heated debate in the country. However, can an issue that has global and regional security implication, like PNWT, is an internal matter of a country or it needs to be brought under careful international scrutiny.

The proliferation chain that emerged after the “father” of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, accepted his involvement in the scandal, included North Korea, Libya and Iran, with Turkey and Saudi Arabia suspected as loose links in the chain. Among them the first three are regarded by America as rogue states involved in the promotion of international terrorism and development of “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, thereby threat to international peace and security. It is an irony that Pakistan, which claims to be an important American ally in its war on terror, is involved in the supply of nuclear weapon technology to the countries termed by America as ‘Axis of Evil’.

Incidentally, the Pakistani connection was first revealed during September 2003 Iran- IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) standoff. Iran claimed that the traces of highly enriched uranium found at one of its nuclear facility were contaminated by the previous owner, which was Pakistan. Then, the American disclosure that the warhead design flown from Libya starkly resembles the Pakistani warheads, confirmed these allegations. Lastly, it was Dr. Khan who accepted in a personal apology to the country on this issue and revealed that North Korea was also a part of this link.

The motives behind these deals and transfer of technology, apparently from 1987 to 2002 (as claimed by New York Times), can be multiple- from personal benefits to ideological leanings. However, according to Pakistani establishment, it was Dr. A. Q. Khan alone, who for his personal benefits sold the Pakistan’s know-how of nuclear weapons technology to these countries. But, here one fails to understand that how a person with the stature of Dr. Khan was able carry on these secrets deals without government knowledge. Even though, he has claimed sole responsibility for the deals and sought the apology of the Pakistani people, not everyone is convinced.

The reports have revealed that Dr. Khan has told the investigators earlier that General Mirza Aslam Beg, the Pakistani army chief from 1988 to 1991 and General Jehangir Karamat were aware and approved of the assistances he was providing to Iran and North Korea. These revelations by Dr. Khan have not only contradicted the repeated assertion made by General Musharraf and others that Dr. Khan acted out of greed against the interest of the country, but also pointed a finger of suspicion towards the General himself. Particularly, the rallies and the demonstrations organised in support of Dr. Khan make the point that he has been made a scapegoat. Further it is really difficult to believe that military aircraft used to transport furniture for Dr. Khan to Africa was beyond the government’s knowledge or was it a cover up for one of the attempt to supply components to Libya, like in October 2003 (as claimed by Americans). Interestingly, some Pakistani officials also floated the idea that Dr. Khan was motivated by his desire to make other Islamic countries nuclear powers. However, they fail in their attempt to invoke Bhutto’s ‘Islamic Bomb’ for its ummah because it could not explain the North Korean connection. The North Korean angle can only be understood, if the Pakistani desire to exchange its nuclear know how for North Korean missiles is taken into account.

The international community has shown extreme caution in repose to this issue. The Indian Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Yashwant Sinha said that the matter would be raised in forums such as IAEA. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell observed, “This is a matter between Mr. Khan and his government. But it is the matter also for the international community I will be talking to President Musharraf.” Russia has called for international pressure on Islamabad to join non-proliferation control.

The dilemma of India and other countries are reasonable if we consider the present thaw in the relation between the two South Asian neighbours and Pakistan’s centrality in the war on terror. Nevertheless, it leaves many issues unaddressed. First, the proliferation of nuclear weapon technology having serious international implication remains an internal issue of a country. Second, safety of these weapons in a country, particularly, where the military and scientific establishment nexus is more dominating in the decision making than the civilian governments. Lastly, how to explain the double standard international community adopted while dealing with Pakistan on one side and Iraq on the other. Need of the hour is to create an international regime to check such instances of proliferation or it may lead to another 9/11 or something even more disastrous.