

The nuclear network of A.Q. Khan

A hero at home, a villain abroad

New revelations on the sort of weapons expertise that was on offer to all comers have deepened the world's worries about nuclear proliferation

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Readers' comments



Brendan - Although I agree with your comments in substance, but it seems to me that you exaggerate the role of religion e.g. Islam in the Iranian policy at large. Iran has never been a religious state like Israel or S. Arabia, therefore, it has been accommodative in crucial issues in general. The Iranian revolution in the 1970th was not religious but anti-colonial in substance, where religion and religious leaders led the people against US and British interests.

As far as the contention of first nuclear strike by Iran is concerned, it is simply incomprehensible. Iran is technologically and militarily hundred miles away from Israel and US, where any attempt of strike even conventional weapons would result in its total annihilation. The Iranian secular military is well aware of this. Contrary to this, Israel’s religious and military fanaticism and extremism is too dangerous to the region than a Mickey- Mouse Iran.

Jet Screamer

brendan - I think Iran's nuclear ambitions and their support of the Palestinians are, from their point of view, two seperate issues. The first, I believe, is a means to extohrt money and priviledge from the West. The second is a matter based on principle- and I'm not sure how much of that is Islamic versus simply what they see as an injustice and as a convienient way to stick-it to the US.
Iran doesn't want to be the only other country in history to ever use a nuke, they also wouldn't want to destroy what they perceive to be Palestine for the Palestinians, and they most definitely do not want to be resonsible for raining nuclear fall-out over Jeruselem, still one of the, if not the, most important and sacred of all places in Islam. Moreover, they do understand fully well the response to such an attack if every they made one overtly or covertly. They won't ever risk it- but they will continue to do everything they can to be a thorn in the side of the US and up their influence in the region- until they've decided they've done enough and extohrted as much as they are likely to get.
As far as support for the Palestinians, they won't ever stop until the Palestinians decide the conflict is over- no matter how much pressure is put on them.

Jet Screamer

BBG, I'd say 'a'. The Iranians are cleverly manuipulating an illusion in order to get the Western powers to confer a host of benefits on them. They will continue until they have a certifiable reason not to. I think they have bought certain technologies abroad- possibly stemming from the Khan network- but I don't think they are intent on developing or using it. But either way, this nation of smart, stubborn, and independant people aren't going to have the US or anyone else tell them what to do or how to do it- unless, of course, it pays handsomely. They may be crazy, but they aren't crazy-crazy.

brendan steuble

While I would agree that your argument is rational, my instincts tell me that people ask young girls to strap bombs to themselves and blow up markets are not rational.Islam CAN be used in this way: any and all religions have been. It is being used this way now.I wouldn't be happy with the Pope having nuclear tipped icbms either. In fact, the idea is compelling in its ludicrousness and helps to demonstrate the seriousness of Iran.Lastly, for completeness, Israel certainly falls into the ideological camp, and its history shows aggressive expansion of territory at the expense of the Palestinians. But, a democracy is a different foe than the Ayatollah. There is a great deal of religious disharmony inside Israel and among Jews worldwide and this balkanization is what happens with freedom of expression (Christianity suffered the same fate).Iran as a culture is one of the oldest and greatest in the world. The modern combination is a very recent country and was founded upon religious idealism.The Koran is a beautiful work, and Islam is powerful and compelling. But again, the pope?But for Pakistan (finally). Pakistan is a set of tribes, each potentially undemocratic (no reason they have to be), and ruled by a strong central military force which has nuclear icbms. It would seem to me that the world has two problems with it: 1) the central state was selling the plans and designs to America's enemies; 2) the tribes are helping the Taliban, which Nato is at war with.Unfortunately, we cannot allow any single tribe to get the bomb from a failed central state (I think anyone would think this would be madness: look at the cooperation in securing the USSR's stockpile). Also, we cannot win our effort (in Iraq or in Afghanistan) with continued interference by the neighboring countries. The answer will be, for Pakistan: the continued encroachment upon their territory with the grudging approval of their central government. For Iran: Israel is going to destroy their reactors and centrifuges.


The author ignores the fact that US, France, Israel, UK, Russia, China etc. have been testing fifth generation nuclear weapons while trying to deny Iran its inherent right to basic nuclear technology. Why is that? Why do they ignore that the Non-Proliferation Treaty demands disarmament of their nuclear arsenals while giving other nation the right to nuclear technology viz. enrichment of uranium.

A nation trying to obtain real independence must possess nuclear technology and nuclear weapons without which no political security and energy security is attainable. The Iranian nation must fight to assert their right and not to retreat an inch in this path.

A viable option is to realize the long-awaited project of the MIddle East Free Nuclear Zone, which will include all nations in the region including Israel. In the face of the nuclear-armed Israel, under no international supervision, no nation in the region feels secure viz. Iran. The full disclosure of Israel's nuclear program and control of atomic agency, is necessary in this respect.


Brendan I think you are wrong. Iranians will never use the nuke. Not because they are religious fanatics, but because Iran is an old civilization that knows its place in history. Iran has been on the side of the Palestinians, true, but not at the cost of their own country. Iran knows what the use of a nuke will do to it - its suicide. Iran using a nuke is a figment of US imagination.The Iranian nuke (when and if it happens) is a hedge against the Israeli and American nukes (parked within 100 miles of the Iranian cost). I don't blame the Iranians going nuclear.But how do you solve the problem like Pakistan?

brendan steuble

BG. I am sure that the Iranians are building an offensive nuclear weapon delivery system. I am unsure whether they will use it against the Jews when they have it. The North Koreans lost their nerve, why not the Iranians? Having been to South Korea, I can tell you that the religious issues involved with the Iranians do not exist there which, to me, increases the likelihood the Iranians will use their weapon.So what do we do? It was what 60 years ago when another group of people decided to exterminate the Jews and was met, in its initial stages, by people who felt war was unacceptable no matter the reason.Was is NOT unacceptable and the idea that it is is in general used by people who have violence in their behavior.The Israeli's are going to attack Iran regardless of what the US or EU do, and so the real question is do we join in or not? There is no way either group is going to see Israel destroyed (I am no fan myself and the palestinians deserve MUCH better from the world). We're going to help. We'll all be at war with ALL the Arabs soon.Sad sad sad but true.


I have a question which I would like to see answered, please, by earlier posters who have accused The Economist of inaccuracy, poor research, dishonesty, attention deficit disorder, or other shortcomings, including collusion with suspect government agencies in Washington & London.

First, please reread these two short sentences from The Economist’s article: “Like Pakistan's Ghauri missiles, Iran's Shahab-3 rockets are clones of Mr Kim's Nodongs. So the Khan network's modern warhead design would fit them just as nicely.”

Second, please state briefly: In your view, is this statement about what is going on in Iran:

(a) broadly true (either certainly or probably)
(b) untrue (either certainly or probably)
(c) unverifiable
(d) None of the above
(e) Don’t know

Thank you all.


You don't need to dig up history to understand Pakistan's duplicity. Its been a fountain head of world terrorism. In its heydays, it sponsored terrorism across India, China, Britain, Chechnya, the Balkans, east Africa, Israel, Nepal and arguably against the US. Pakistan has for a long time viewed terrorism as its secret weapon against much of the world. The easy deniability of terrorist attacks meant that the terrorism claws can be unsheathed at will and used against anybody.Nuclear proliferation has been just another way for Pakistan to extend its influence, make money and use it to spread terrorism further. The countries that purchased Pakistani nuclear technology reads like the whos-who of the world's villians. Which other list would countries like Iran, North Korea and Libya make - definitely not a Nobel Peace Prize.Time the world woke up to the new nuclear reality.


nobody in their sense except perhaps western governments/media could believe that dr.khan alone is responsible for this criminal act. this scientist who is under the emplyoyment of the government of pakistan, would not indulge in these activites without the active support and knowledge of the pakistan government. instead of attacking him day in day out, the Big Powers should haul the pakistani government before the security council and demand all the informations relevant to the nuclear proliferation which haunts the entire human race


Those familiar with Pakistan would say, that the Pak.army top brass, a few top ISI people and a core of scientists headed by A.Q. Khan would have "pocketed" a huge sum of money from the sale of their unique wares.
Britain would not have had a clue in 1947 that the division of British India would affect her so much. Her tube-trains and buses blown up and serious threats to her internal peace.
In the late 1930s Raj, when Britain saw in the horizon a war with Germany, she became anxious that Gandhi and the Congress should be slowed down in their agitation for independence. British officials developed a glad hand for the Muslim League and quietly encouraged "muslim separatism" by being extra-protective of muslim interests at the expense of the Congress and Hindus.. Given muslim exclusiveness in general, it was not such a difficult job.
It worked. By 1940s, the "Pakistan movement" of the Muslim League kept the Congress "off-balance", as it gathered momentum. Britain focused on the war.
History's strange march !! Something that started as a manouvre to manage a colony has grown into something else. Now Pakistan is the "Premier Finishing School for Terrorists" and is the host of A.Q. Khan's "shop"!! Such is the West's best ally in the "war against terror"!!

On that subject: Where is Osama Bin Laden?

I understand the USA is to give Pakistan another TEN billion dollars to search for Osama bin Laden [ also to take away A.Q. Khan'scomputer to be handed over to Pentagon ] Should I inform them that Osama is, in fact, living in Indian Kashmir under the protection of the "secular" Indian government? They won't betray him even for 10 billion dollars. Why not? If they do, they will lose the muslim votes in the next Indian general elections. Osama knows this. He also knows that the Pakistani generals would sell him for any figure above 200 billion dollars. That is why he is hiding in the Doda Hills in the border of Jammu and Kashmir. He came there right after the Taliban fell. All this Waziristhan base is a red herring. The Americans are still the most gullible people in the world.

Oh, I may as well come right out clean. One of the Swiss computers is linked to "Indian military intelligence" - the only service to have tracked Dr. A.Q. Khan properly. India has been the only country that has been crying hoarse over Pak proliferation since the late 1980s. See, they knew.


A former Home Minister of India Mr L K Advani commented after 9-11 ( when the Americans chose Pakistan as a "frontline ally in the war against terror")....Pakistan can never be an ally in this war , Pakistan is terror central.Needless to say most western governments dismissed his statement as a pace pulling exercise between testy neighbours ... The truth is there for all to see.... support to the Taliban and Al Qaida ,serving Pakistani officers being evacuated from Afghanistan with US knowledge, the mockery of the so called hunt for Osama in the tribal regions , the equally laughable "arrest" of Dr Khan . Will the world never learn .


Somebody just forgot to mention the latest news, Pantagon reported hunders of Nuclear parts from them. So far no investigation is carried out. Oh ho.
Now tell me, does USA deserve to keep nuclear setup??
Is there any way to point out one country or one person being unsafe for holding Nuclear, when the big-boss is also compromised.


Agree that this article is WAY below normal Economist standards.Why did this article not mention that the files(design?) were ordered destroyed by the US? Or that the Tinners were on the CIA payroll? For a more realistic discussion of the issues involved, seehttp://tinyurl.com/4kvs2nTo the "weapons scientist" Hans Bethe's open letter, delivered on the 5oth anniversary of Hiroshima:"Today we are rightly in an era of disarmament and dismantlement of nuclear weapons. But in some countries nuclear weapons development still continues. Whether and when the various Nations of the world can agree to stop this is uncertain. But individual scientists can still influence this process by withholding their skills.Accordingly, I call on all scientists in all countries to cease and desist from work creating, developing, improving and manufacturing further nuclear weapons; and, for that matter, other weapons of potential mass destruction such as chemical and biological weapons."---- To avoid repeating

brendan steuble

As a weapon scientist, I think it is important to note that there is NO WAY he did not have the support of the state. These plans were not built in his basement and were not just bought and traded. To blame this guy for the state's behavior is stupid. The state of Pakistan is one of those countries that should be included in the axis of evil and that is an end to it.We should invade, drive the Taliban into their graves, and put an end to the muslim bomb. Fine: pretend to yourselves that this sort of speech is bigoted/christian/neo-conservative. Just remember your failure to act when things become worse. Manhanttan wasn't destroyed, just 2 buildings. Last time.

Jet Screamer

What a dangerous world we've made for ourselves. It's no wonder we are so bent on destroying ourselves- I'm not sure I can stand us either.


The blatant ignorance of the article is absolutely astounding for a periodical that claims to be running a journalistic concern. First last tackle the obvious, the point that any journalist should have researched before putting ink to paper, namely that nuclear weapon designs are not separate from their industrial base. To draw the finest of contrast, let us take the example of the U.S. and Russia. Both nations have made tens of thousands of weapons and have well developed industries for said purpose, yet both would be hard pressed to implement an advanced designed of the other. Considering that an "advanced" design is highly optimized configuration, something akin to a race car with very little in the way of margin of detonation then a nuclear weapons packages working at time scales of tens of nanoseconds would suffer greatly from small differences arising from artifacts of manufacturing varying from nation to nation. There is after all no ISO for nuclear components nor a ready market for the most crucial components of a city killer. An advanced design is the product of hundreds of specialist, intimately aware of the resources they have at hand, working to constantly balance the various requirements of a design and constantly revising said design as minor changes cause ripples through their engineering effort. Thus an advanced nuclear weapon design, proven and tested by one nation, would prove only useful as a pointer in the right direction, not a blueprint for production.As far as the second glaring point, what I like to refer as to attention deficit disorder of modern journalist, did know one notice that the original article by Warrick names individuals who had previously been both arrested and mysteriously released by U.S. customs? Did no one bother ask the question, who were these people? What relation do they have to various national intelligence agencies, how much of this story is real and how much of it is more malarkey to be regurgitated by the Economist before it's feed to a war weary population by a duplicitous leadership in Washington and London that has yet to have it's fill of blood? And I ask the same question I ask of the previous run up to the last war to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons; where was/is the journalistic integrity of the Economist when outlandish and easily disprovable claims were/are being made by Washington and London, was/is it collusion that held/holds your tongue or was/is it ignorance?


mr. khans escapades rate an 11 out of 10 on my lunacy barometer.We have had these horrible weapons for years now and have not used them for two reasons ,Our women and children and the Grace of God. Dispite all of our weaknesses modern civilization with its nuclear weapons has remembered its women and children .I am sure the original intention of these weapons was as a deterrent.Even a peace keeper needs a weapon .Unfortunately there will always be lunatics and the need of someone to protect the greater whole from them.Hopeful the peace keepers wont be bloated ,inefficient beaurocracies but thats something else altogether. I believe the peoples that are not only endangering their women and children but are actually using them for incendiary devices are providing a litmus test for insanity. Not to mention the promise of the complete annihilation of at least several nations of peoples. Mr. kahn reminds me of the child who knows to stay out of the cupboard because there is rat poison . After finding the rat poison he treats it it as candy taking it to school to sell to the other kids for his own ego gratification and personal enrichment . Right now ,i'm mostly counting on the Grace of God...

Ibne Ahmad

Well, there should be open market mechanism for all things. Do not specify it as these r more harmful n these r less etc. Weapons are weapons, whether nuclear or any other. They are meant to effect / destroy other humans (either in defence or in attack). In both cases, humans suffer!

So, either make the world clear from all nuclear weapons first (all countries should destroy their nuclear weapons). And then, gradually, other weapons as well. Lets have harmony n peace throughout.

And if its not possible to destroy the nuclear weapons (for USA, Russia, France, China, England and all others), then lets all have these weapons. At least, do the 'justice' if not 'peace'. The Champs of Free Market (Open Market) are exercising 'controlled market' opposite to their basic theme. Its Hyprocracy at its best at international level.

Simply, we didn't make this world and similarly we cannot stop it from dying.

Ibne Ahmad


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