The release of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan from house arrest has triggered concern in the international community. Hailed in Pakistan as the father of its nuclear programme, Khan was the kingpin in an international nuclear proliferation racket that saw nuclear weapon technology being transferred to Libya, Iran and North Korea. Khan was put under house arrest in 2004. But with a secret agreement reached between Khan and the Pakistani government, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan a tree citizen in Feb. Details of the agreement remain under wraps. His release has evoked concern abroad that he will misuse his freedom to resume his nuclear proliferation activities and reactivate the old proliferation network.
The court order has led to interesting comments by the media, unlike what the government in Islamabad might have expected. Some of the English language dailies have expressed the view that the Pakistan government has only added to its problems by reaching a secret agreement with the irresponsible nuclear scientist. But the government is believed to have taken the step as part of a political gameplan. A~ Daily Times points out, "One can say that today two deposed personalities, Dr Khan and Chief Justice Ifrikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, ride the crest of public acclaim; and the government may have 'freed' Dr Khan to reduce the pressure Justice Chaudhry may bring on it with his Long March."
By releasing Khan, Pakistan has indicated yet again its contempt for the international community's concerns over global security. But this is not an isolated act of defiance by the Pakistani government. Despite international concern over religious extremism and terrorist activity emanating in Pakistan, its government is allowing them to operate openly again. It is likely that the release of Khan, is a fallout of the ongoing power struggle between Pakistan's civilian governmem and the military. Khan was no doubt a key player in the nuclear proliferation network but he carried out his activities with the full knowledge of the military.
Besides, there were hundreds of individuals and entities in Pakistan and abroad who knew of the trade and participated in it. Khan and a few others took the rap while the others got away. Is Khan's release a move by the civilian government to embarrass the military and score points with the Pakistani public, even as it seeks to put pressure on the US and others?
Successive administrations in Washington did look the other way while Pakistan proliferated nuclear technology. The US' concern with Khan's release could have more to do with the possibilityof the scientist revealing its role in his proliferation activities rather than with the threat his release poses to global security, Pakistan could be using the release of Khan to pressure the US at a time when Pakistan-US relations have nosedived. But things might not work according to Islamabad's gameplan. Khan could reveal the role of successive civilian governments in the proliferation racket, including that of former prime minster Benazir Bhutto. And that could sting the civilian government badly.
The court order has led to interesting comments by the media, unlike what the government in Islamabad might have expected. Some of the English language dailies have expressed the view that the Pakistan government has only added to its problems by reaching a secret agreement with the irresponsible nuclear scientist. But the government is believed to have taken the step as part of a political gameplan. A~ Daily Times points out, "One can say that today two deposed personalities, Dr Khan and Chief Justice Ifrikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, ride the crest of public acclaim; and the government may have 'freed' Dr Khan to reduce the pressure Justice Chaudhry may bring on it with his Long March."
By releasing Khan, Pakistan has indicated yet again its contempt for the international community's concerns over global security. But this is not an isolated act of defiance by the Pakistani government. Despite international concern over religious extremism and terrorist activity emanating in Pakistan, its government is allowing them to operate openly again. It is likely that the release of Khan, is a fallout of the ongoing power struggle between Pakistan's civilian governmem and the military. Khan was no doubt a key player in the nuclear proliferation network but he carried out his activities with the full knowledge of the military.
Besides, there were hundreds of individuals and entities in Pakistan and abroad who knew of the trade and participated in it. Khan and a few others took the rap while the others got away. Is Khan's release a move by the civilian government to embarrass the military and score points with the Pakistani public, even as it seeks to put pressure on the US and others?
Successive administrations in Washington did look the other way while Pakistan proliferated nuclear technology. The US' concern with Khan's release could have more to do with the possibilityof the scientist revealing its role in his proliferation activities rather than with the threat his release poses to global security, Pakistan could be using the release of Khan to pressure the US at a time when Pakistan-US relations have nosedived. But things might not work according to Islamabad's gameplan. Khan could reveal the role of successive civilian governments in the proliferation racket, including that of former prime minster Benazir Bhutto. And that could sting the civilian government badly.
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