India-Pakistan: February 4, 2004

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Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the key scientist in the development of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, admitted, on television and radio, that he was responsible for selling nuclear weapons technology to foreign countries (Iran, Libya and North Korea). As the head of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, Khan simply ordered subordinates to deliver documents and equipment to the foreign countries. Khan has been under investigation for months. Pakistani nationalists and Islamic radicals back Khan, either because he is considered a national hero, or because they believe Pakistan's nuclear weapons to be "the Islamic bomb." However, many in Pakistan, and elsewhere, cannot believe that Khan did this without cooperation from the government, and without orders from the very top. Khan's confession appears to be an attempt at damage control and providing an excuse to pardon national hero Khan.

 

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