'AQ Khan was made a scapegoat by Pak govt'

New Delhi, Sep 22: Ever since The Sunday Times revealed the secrets of Pakistan's nuclear scientist, AQ Khan to the world, the media has been trying to get more details on the country's nexus with the controversial nuclear programmes of Iran, North Korea and Libya.

Times News Network spoke to Simon Henderson who was the journalist who broke the news based on the scientist's letter to his Dutch wife Henny through an e-mail interview.

Even though he refused to comment on why he chose to release the 2003 letter now, Henderson spoke on other insights.

Noting that the proliferation was the official policy of successive governments, the scribe said that Dr Khan was made a scapegoat by the Pakistani establishment as it was easy to blame everything on him.

And when asked about the global concern over terrorists and jehadis getting control over Pakistan nuclear weaponry, Henderson said that this fear is based on the activities of individuals who formerly worked for PAEC.

In the Sunday Times report published on Sep 20, Henderson had disclosed the details of the four-page long letter dated December 10, 2003.

Humiliated 74-year-old AQ Khan wrote that the country's nuke secrets were exchanged with country's like China, Iran, North Korea, and Libya on the dictation of the Pakistani government and military but he was forced to take a rap for it.

OneIndia News