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Posted By David E. Hoffman
Friday, December 23, 2011 - 8:05 PM
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One of the unsolved mysteries of the A. Q Khan nuclear proliferation network is whether there was another nation that benefited, beyond Iran, North Korea and Libya. Khan, the metallurgist who played a key role in Pakistan's quest for the atomic bomb, acknowledged selling equipment and plans that could be used for nuclear weapons to these three countries, but, by some accounts, he and his associates also referred to a hidden "fourth customer."
Now, Joshua Pollack, an expert on nonproliferation whose work has appeared in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the ArmsControlWonk.com blog, and the Nonproliferation Review, has written an article with a surprising suggestion: the fourth customer might have been Pakistan's bitter rival, nuclear-armed India.
In a piece just published in Playboy, Pollack lays out some evidence that the Khan network's wares--including the key features of centrifuges needed to enrich uranium to higher levels for a weapon--may have found their way to India.
Pollack reports that India's efforts to buy centrifuges in 1997-1999 and again from 2003-2006 offered clues to the source of their technology. The hints were contained in advertisements published in newspapers, and documents which India gave to potential suppliers. According to Pollack, the centrifuge design which India sought is "recognizable to the trained eye" as one that "almost mirrors" a design that Khan stole from a European firm in the 1970s and which he later used to build centrifuges for Pakistan.
A centrifuge spins at extremely high speed to separate out the rare isotope uranium that is necessary to build a bomb. The rotor tubes of the centrifuges used by India are narrower and thicker-walled than the Khan designs, according to Pollack, but "are designed along the same distinctive lines: a single tube of maraging steel with a bellows formed directly upon it, not manufactured as a separate component." The bellows is an accordion-like crimp in the tube that helps it remain intact at super-high velocities and under great stress from vibration. Pollack said India is one of only three countries in the world believed to be using centrifuges of this type at this time, and the other two are already known to be Khan's customers. He also reports that India's centrifuge design has small differences from the Khan type "that seem to make it more susceptible to failure."
Pollack also says that others in Khan's illicit network--including Gerhard Wisser, a German living in South Africa--sold technology to India, with or without Khan's knowledge. Pollack notes a partial admission by Khan, documented in the memoirs of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf: "There is a strong possibility that the Indian enrichment program may also have its roots in the Dubai-based [Khan] network and could be a copy of the Pakistani centrifuge design." Musharraf pardoned Khan in 2004 after Khan publicly confessed his role in setting up the proliferation network.
What might have been Khan's motive for selling nuclear equipment to Pakistan's arch-foe? Pollack argues that Khan was always on a quest for personal glory. He drew large sums of money from the nuclear sales, which helped him to become a prominent benefactor and philanthropist in Pakistan, something of a national hero. Pollack points out how Khan has rationalized his illicit dealings, saying that Iran and Libya probably couldn't master the technology anyway, and that North Korea already had a bomb design and plutonium, so it wouldn't make that much of a difference. India, too, already had a nuclear weapon.
Pollack's piece does not prove that India was buying from the Khan network, but it keeps alive the question of who was the mysterious "fourth customer."
Why does the author ignore the obvious?
Military espionage is nothing new.
As the Americans or their allies can't get their hands on A.Q. Khan, would this sort of rumour not be spread to have him executed by the Pakistanis themselves?
Everybody knows that Khan never traded any secrets. The Puki Government was selling them to North Korea in exchange for missile technology and to Iran for cash. Finally they put the blame on QA Khan and put him in 5-star home arrest. Had he sold a single secret to India - all his family and clan would have been lynched to death long ago.
He denied his acceptence of allegations
He accepted the allegations on pressure of Musharaf (former dictator / Army chief). He denied allegations made by western media and governments.
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i Agree in The Puki Government was selling them to North Korea in exchange for missile technology and to Iran for cash. Finally they put the blame on QA Khan and put him in 5-star home arrest. Thanks for sharing !
massagista
How did India get nuclear capability?
No secret about it! India stole the nuclear technology from all over the world like So many others. The Pollok Theory is an act of stretching the imagination. AQ Khan erred in his sense of judgement by developing contacts with an international mafia, which used his name to make money.
India is constantly seeking (stealing) technology and skill from all over the world to enhance her nuclear arsenal.
AQ Khan is a terribly incapacitated person now and has already appologizes for his mistakes; however, none of his mistakes have helped any country getting nuclear status.
Preposterous propaganda campaign against Pakistan must end now.
How you treat a patriot, makes what you are
India joined the nuclear club under the leadership of Abdul Kalam and made him the president of the country. (FYI, the most popular president in the independent India’s history.)
Pukistan’s nuclear program was fathered by Q.A. Khan. The country crowned him by putting all sins of the politicians on his head.
Both Kalam and Khan are Muslim. But the two countries treated them differently. Is it preposterous propaganda?
How India treats Muslims is known everywhere. The facts established by the commission appointed by Indian Government make startling revelations. Muslims are the poorest of the Indian society and way down represented in provincial and union jobs; are the worst in human development indices. Discrimination to the hilt! In fact, the most down - troden from all angles.
How are you committing genocide of Muslims in Kashmir is also a crown over the head of a "secular" India. How did you massacred Sikhs in Punjab is also an example of your good treatment of non - Hindu communities.
Appointing Kalam was a political gimmick and everyone in India and abroad knows it clearly.
Please correct your knowledge and stop castigating Pakistan. Till the time you are obsessed of Pakistan, your aspirations of rising to a big power status will never materialize.
AQKhan would have sold his grandmother a buck if there was any offer.from any quarters.All these Pakistani morally rot politicians and men in Khaki are willing participents in this international crime of proliferating knowledge and technology of nukes to any one for a profit.
Extremely sad to read such filthy comments. I wish FP had applied some filtering mechanism applied here and could disallow such abnoxious remarks.
Obsession of Pakistan remains deeply imbeded in Indian psyche. Suggest, rise above petty rhetoric and hatred of neighbors, if desire to be respected as a responsible nation.
If India were to follow Khanjee’s advice, it would be respected by the world as a responsible nation like Pukistan! Thank you sir, for a very wise advice!! Merry X’Mas!!!
I expected to put some sense in your prejudiced mind. Alas! It has prove futile. The problem is deep - seated. Arrogance of very intensity has hit you, my Indian friend.
Have some introspection and let objectivity prevail.
Your hatred for Pakistan on one pretext or the other only vindicates the conviction of Pakistanis that India remains the existential threat for their country.
Let me tell you, your hegemonic designs in the region and efforts to pullverize the neighbors would never succeed. Let some sense and humility prevail upon you.
Arrogance really has no bounds. May Jesus Christ bless you with some sanity.
Thank you sir. We would try to become like you and the world would be a better place :)
I can only pray for you; appear to be incorrigible. I made some solid points to ponder for you. Unfortunately, you have defied logic and balance. Typical Indian. May Christ help you.
Why are you still unhappy? I said that we shall try to become like you and other countries in the world should also follow your example.
Incidentally, it is good to know you are praying for us. Other than you and Beygairat Brigade (of Aalu Anday fame) the general impression is that the nation is out on Jihaad.
Exactlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
You know the whole truth..
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and ArmsControlWonk.com are hack websites with seriously questionable credibility. Both are biased with a leftist agenda. Use them to gather information, but do not believe their conclusions.
The entire credibility of this article is blown to hell by the sources used. The A. Q Khan nuclear proliferation network may have sold equipment and plans to India, but I certainly would seek out other sources to confirm. On the surface it seems pretty amazing that this could happen.
But it should be noted that unlike Pakistan and India
Both countries pursued their nuclear weapons production under deep secrecy. Putting their enrichment efforts as deep underground as possible and what few civilian nuclear projects as low key as possible.
Despite ongoing conflicts, there was no fiery rhetoric or threats of annihilating their enemies. No obvious long range missile tests for the world media.Nobody really was able to get a handle on their intentions until AFTER their weapons test, when the point became moot.
Compare this to Iran, North Korea and Saddam's Iraq. Those countries did everything possible to advertise it intends to make nuclear weapons, conveniently leaks its allegedly secret information to the world press and makes bold pronouncements of wiping out a declared enemy nation. The only major difference is North Korea got called on its bluff when their "big test" which fizzled badly (possibly faked with conventional explosives]
We didn't find WMD's in Iraq because Saddam was bluffing and engaging in rank puffery to cover up a disorganized mess of a nuclear program. There weren't any but Saddam acted like there were.
Obviously nations which want to really pursue nukes act like India and Pakistan. Poseurs who want to play nuclear "chicken" and intentionally start international incidents act like Iran, North Korea and Saddam's Iraq.
I’m willing to honor the spirit of Democracy
I’m willing to honor the spirit of Democracy, and be motivated to win back seats and the White House in order to more effectively see my party’s political influence spread. Sure, it will be policy hell, but your party has never undone its stranglehold, so what have I got to lose at this point? Your leaders are so tin-eared at this point concerning public opinion, that I would likely see my party back in a few years, and more powerful than every before.
I can be patient. I can stand aside this time as I simply say, you know, I once defended filibusters, but as a tool of protest and a means of gaining concessions of sázení. But since it seems like it’s going to be a way to nullify the authority of the president to appoint, and the Legislative majorities to legislate, we need some sort of reform here now, and I’m willing to see the filibuster gone, if it means that the government once again does the people’s business.
David E. Hoffman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
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