Washington/Islamabad: In a startling revelation, James Loller, former operations chief of the U.S. Central Intelligence Company (CIA), has disclosed how Pakistan’s nuclear programme was compromised by leaks that despatched shockwaves throughout international intelligence circles. Pakistan’s high nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was secretly promoting delicate nuclear expertise and categorized data to different nations.
Famend for exposing Khan’s worldwide nuclear smuggling community, Loller advised ANI in an interview that CIA Director George Tenet personally briefed Musharraf on Khan’s actions, offering conclusive proof.
The intelligence confirmed that he had been supplying delicate nuclear expertise to nations, together with Libya, making a extreme menace to international safety.
Upon receiving this data, the then President Musharraf reportedly reacted with fury. “He exploded and cursed Khan. He stated, ‘I’ll kill him.’ Shortly after, Khan was positioned below home arrest for a number of years in his own residence,” Loller recalled.
Khan’s identify has been linked to a number of controversies through the years, together with the proliferation of nuclear expertise and working unlawful networks. In 2004, he was positioned below custody. He later admitted to his function within the community, although he additionally levelled accusations in opposition to each Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
In line with Loller, Tenet had warned Musharraf that Khan was betraying Pakistan’s pursuits. After extended surveillance, the CIA found that whereas Khan was making Pakistan a nuclear-capable state, he was concurrently sending essential nuclear data overseas.
Loller revealed that that is why he had dubbed Khan “the Service provider of Demise”.
The community below Khan’s management finally reached Iran’s nuclear programme. Proof emerged Tehran utilsed P1 and P2 centrifuge designs that had been smuggled by Khan.
His community had additionally delivered ballistic missile knowledge and blueprints of a Chinese language atomic bomb. Loller warned that if Iran grew to become totally nuclear-capable, the Center East might face a catastrophic “nuclear pandemic”.
This disclosure supplies a uncommon inside look into the worldwide nuclear proliferation community and highlights the advanced and sometimes perilous internet of espionage, secrecy and political maneuvering surrounding Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions.