Four-year-long Pak probe fails to establish Dr Khan-Qaeda link

Islamabad, May 31 : Four-year-long investigations by Pakistani authorities were not able to establish links between Pakistan nuclear scientist Dr AQ Khan and Al Qaeda. But, it revealed that Dr Khan helped Iran and Libya by supplying them nuclear knowhow in a bid to divert the US' focus from the Pakistani nuclear programme and not just for money.

The probe found that the main reason behind nuclear proliferation was because Dr Khan "disliked the US policies".

Investigators did not find big amounts of money in his bank accounts. Besides, it was found that he was tricked into making the infamous confession on PTV by President Musharraf and Ch. Shujaat Hussain, reported The News.

In a statement given by Dr Khan to investigators, he said that he thought if Iran or Libya became nuclear powers, "pressure of the West from Pakistan will be diverted". He was also of the view that the US might try to destroy Iran or Libya, so he tried to help these countries to develop a nuclear umbrella, added the paper.

Initially, the US authorities had claimed that Dr Khan was in contact with al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Muhammad but it could not be proven. Pakistani investigators never found any evidence of his links with al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

It was also learnt that slowly and gradually Dr Khan would be given more freedom of movement. Before Dr Khan appeared on the PTV in February 2004 and accepted that he was involved in nuclear proliferation, his old friend Senator SM Zafar warned him in that he should not confess anything in the name of national interest because the establishment will make him a scapegoat. But, the poor doctor never listened to his old friend, he revealed.

The investigations found that PML-Q president Ch Shujaat Hussain had convinced Dr Khan to confess that he was involved in nuclear proliferation just to save Pakistan, which he maintains was a great mistake.

Dr Khan claimed that it was not only Shujaat but also President Pervez Musharraf, who assured him on February 4, 2004 that nothing bad will happen to him after the confessional statement and that he would be free to move anywhere in Pakistan but unfortunately he was betrayed.

He said that he was dragged into the nuclear proliferation controversy through a sting operation against Iran and Libya. Responding to another question, he said, "I was not asked any questions about my alleged links with al-Qaeda because investigators were aware that it was just propaganda."

ANI