Key Pakistani Is Said to Admit Atom Transfers

Pakistan's official inquiry into the transfer of nuclear technology has yielded its most substantial finding yet. The founder of the country's nuclear weapons program, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, admitted on Sunday that he had worked with Libya, North Korea, and Iran to help develop those countries' nuclear programs. The scientist said he had helped facilitate the transfer of designs, materials, and know-how to scientists abroad. Dr. Khan claims that spreading nuclear knowledge will help "ease Western attention on Pakistan" as well as help the "Muslim cause". Although the Pakistani president, General Pervez Musharraf, has not yet responded publicly to Dr. Khan's admission, it is expected that his government will continue to deny any knowledge of or participation in the transfers. In recent weeks, US pressure on the Pakistani government has compelled Musharraf to investigate the accusations that American intelligence sources have been making for some time – that Pakistani assistance had been given to these 'rogue nations' as they sought to develop nuclear weapons. – YaleGlobal