Pakistan government has done well to initiate an intense
investigation to identify those responsible for allegedly
providing nuclear technology to other countries. This
should help to assuage all fears of the IAEA and some
states over possible nuclear proliferation occurring in
this country. It was a grave accusation that needed to
be put to rest at the earliest as it could have serious
repercussions given the present temper of United States
and its western friends. Our friendship with America and
effective participation in the war on terror would not
have helped had the influence of the anti-Pakistan lobby
prevailed over Washington. However,
it is also important that the United States and specially
the IAEA heed President Pervez Musharraf’s view
that it was the underworld of mostly European technology
traffickers which leaked secrets to states seeking nuclear
weapons. The western media itself has frequently carried
reports of caches of weapon grade nuclear material being
seized and of scientists’ involvement in this
murky business. The demise of the Soviet Union had raised
understandable alarm in the west of the federation’s
nuclear secrets falling into the hands of criminals.
The incident of 9/11 further fueled the anxiety and
since then the west, specially United States is practically
on a witch hunt sparing neither friend nor foe.
Given such a situation the IAEA will
do well to undertake an investigation into the extent
of the underworld’s involvement in the clandestine
transfer of nuclear technological knowhow to states
which are interested in acquiring it. Painting a frightening
scenario of what could happen if nuclear capability
falls into the hands of thugs and the like is not enough.
It is necessary to track the movement of the technology,
nuclear material and production system to the source
rather than to rely on politically inspired stories
against some states. Seen against the backdrop of several
states openly having nuclear weapons, the efforts by
Iran or Libya should not be seen as a grave misdemeanor.
That they have wisely aborted their nuclear programme
should speak well of their readiness to allay international
fears. However, this does not answer the question why
should India’s nuclear profile be ignored and
not Iran’s.
Hopefully the government’s efforts
to identify the persons involved and the extent of culpability
will remove the unfortunate stigma that Pakistan has
received. But for the irresponsible acts of a few the
country has had to pay a heavy price by way of being
accused of proliferation. Steps must also be taken to
ensure that this does not happen again as the matter
is much too serious to be treated lightly. It is sad
that the nuclear scientists whose services were much
appreciated by the nation had to face such a ignominious
situation.
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