Pakistan

WikiLeaks: Zardari would have handed over AQ Khan if 'he had his way'

Cable reveals Musharraf, Zardari had assured the US Dr AQ Khan would not be released.

Express May 25, 2011

Co-chariman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, had told the United States (US) that he would hand over Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if “he had his way”.

A cable, sent by former US ambassador Anne Patterson on April 18, 2008 from Islamabad (reference no. 150415, reveals that the US had raised the issue of restrictions being lifted from AQ Khan. Zardari “alleged that false information was being leaked to embarrass the PPP”.

Zardari had also informed the US that former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had no decision making role on the AQ Khan issue and he had been told to stop making statements.

In a separate meeting, former President Pervez Musharraf had also assured the US ambassador that Pakistan had no plans to release AQ Khan.

”He knows what he did and accepted the consequences,” said Musharraf. Musharraf noted that he had taken the opportunity of briefing Foreign Minister Qureshi during their recent trip to China on the A.Q. Khan issue. At most, said Musharraf, Khan may for humanitarian purposes be allowed additional family visitations. But he will not be released.

Strategic Plans Divison (SDP) Khalid Kidwai also spoke to Patterson and said that he understood the concerns in case Khan was release, and also added that Khan remained a national hero and there was domestic political pressure coming from statements given by political parties.

The facts, said Kidwai, were clear — Khan had admitted his guilt and received a presidential pardon. Therefore, his legal status was that he was a free man. The GOP had been providing security for “”personal and national security”" reasons, but Khan had accepted this agreement voluntarily and had not challenged his restrictions to date. If he tried to walk out today, however, the GOP had no legal grounds to stop him.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 150415

The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The HinduandNDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.

Correction: May 27, 2011

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the release date of the cable as April 18, 2011. The date has been corrected to April 18, 2008.

COMMENTS (20)

Naumaan | 12 years ago | Reply @ehabs: He never sold any secret. He confessed only to save the dignity of this homeland, where people like you reside. I know very well how Pakistani Intelligence agencies are very much aware of every movement to and from every sensitive organization so how can he solely be responsible to leak info to any other country. Use common sense, please. Even US knows very well but its "Crusaders" plan to bare him to develop any further technology like laser based etc. @Siraj Ahsan: Pakistan was not the first country to develop any WMD. It was "Big B" who first made and even used in Japan. Why we feel shame on it although our purpose was for only deterrence and balance of power. This is international politics but even you only know office politics then its enough for you to understand about its necessity. But Yes, you are right that "Development and competition is what we should stand for" but it can only happen when we would only be sincere to ourselves only. Jinnah's principles of "Emaan, Ittehad aur Tanzeem" is very meaningful. This is the main theme of Islam as well.

Siraj Ahsan | 12 years ago | Reply I am not in favour of weapons of mass destruction.... so if he stopped him I would support it. There is no need to foster the ideology of kill... this is not what muslims should stand for. Development and competition is what we should stand for.

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ehabs | 12 years ago | Reply I am shocked that you guys are defending AQ Khan. He sold our state secrets for his own personal gain!!! Who does that??! If any sane Pakistani had his way, AQ Khan would never see the light of day!

UM | 12 years ago | Reply @Uza Syed: Hard to believe the PAK C130 seen on a N Korea base was also personally flown by him without army's knowledge. Although after Bin Ladin and Pns Mehran events I am tempted to believe so. Our entire criminal system is based on confessions( we know how they are extracted)

jamshaid | 12 years ago | Reply Dr A.Q khan is nt aproperty of zardari..all pakistan wl strongly condemned n wl stand wth Dr qadeer.Zardari is living in utopia that he would fulfill his wish to sell our hero.if we can vanished away Pervez musharaf (an ammerican agent) then zardari is nt stronger than musharaf

Reader | 12 years ago | Reply Hey! Express Tribune, you need an editor, the wikileaks cable in question was dated 2008 and not 2011. I bet you will be to lazy to fix it anyways

Ali Wazir | 12 years ago | Reply lol Zardari would send his mum to the Americans "if he had his way". AQ Khan must be cursing the day he decided to go back to Pakistan to work on the bomb...

Aftab | 12 years ago | Reply @Waseem: I am really sorry at your low level of information and you are commenting on historical events. You know, how much Bhutto pleaded Dr. Qadeer to come to Pakistan and start nuclear weapon program after getting news of India getting technology very fast and even showed in 1974. Please don't try to defame a Person who has all the credit and look at realities with open mindedness. Kindly mention the names of those scientist who had developed nuclear technology before establishing KRL. Thanks

Akbar | 12 years ago | Reply @Mirza - Get a life. Stop lieing to yourself. Our National hero had a pan Islamic side as well which jeopradized our Nationalal Interest. No one is denying his good acts. He was caught and would have been arrested, had Musharraf would not have come out with a solution. He was given protection so that other agencies couldnt reach him which could have further humiliated him and the nation. Read the whole leak. On judges read all other leaks which clearly tells you what was the real PPP and PML N stance and how sincere they were on restoring judges.

Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply The irony is Mush put this "national hero" in jail like criminals. There is not a single posting against that. However, PPP govt gave him freedom and still "they" are responsible for him in detention? If Mush were still in power the judges and A. Q. Khan would not have seen the light of the day.

sai | 12 years ago | Reply Waseem, Even if he did it is right of every nation to acquire atomic power to keep a balanced control over Pakistani made super power I.e USA

Naumaan | 12 years ago | Reply @Waseem: from where you are getting this false info. Before Qadeer, there was no KRL and Uranium cant be enriched in AEC. So please be realistic. Otherwise, Dr. Muneer and Dr. Ashfaq would have never give this "opportunity" to Dr. Qadeer. No other organization is more protected than KRL. Get rid of this old Pakistani thought and try to give credit to deserved ones. Pakistani Intelligence agencies are very much aware of every movement to and from every sensitive organization so how can he solely be responsible to leak info to any other country. Use common sense, please. Why Iran or else, its a long debate. If US transfer this tech to Israel, and Russia to India then why you dont blame these countries. @Amin, if human price is 75% off then every single Pakistani should be blamed. Our parents, our teachers, and our religious scholars and our leaders, who failed to teach and transfer good manners and best Islamic teachings which teaches exemplary way of life. But we failed to prove that we are followers of Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.S).

Amin Karachi | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistan is the only place in this world where the commodities prices are high but the human prices are 75% off.Our leaders can sell any person at a very low price........Shame on us.

Waseem | 12 years ago | Reply @Aftab Dr.Qadeer is a national hero? are you kidding me. i thinkg all you read is newspaper and do not knwo the ground realities. The guy has done nothing. The atomic energy ection was place well before him. You need to recognize the actual scienteist and stop living in dream land.. Dr.Qadeer sold the weapons to North Korea and Iran.

Aftab | 12 years ago | Reply Dr. Abdul Qadeer is our National Hero and will remain like that. Musharraf has gone and so will Zardari. But Dr. Qadeer will always remain in hearts and minds of patriotic Pakistani people. They tried their best to defame that great man but still unsuccessful and will always be...Insha ALLAH

Salman Zafar | 12 years ago | Reply Shame on you Zardari.

Dr. Asif Mahmood | 12 years ago | Reply Dear Readers The rulers who fail to comply with the Manifesto of their parties should not be given Mandate to be in politics next time. If the Lion eats Lamb, it is not the fault of the lion but the owner of lamb.

Uza Syed | 12 years ago | Reply Well, well! -------- Did he or didn't he? Do we or have we not his 'public confession'? Was his acts criminal or not does it tantamount to helping other countries jeopardizing third countries' security or not ----- by protecting such a criminal are we violating our international committments under UNO Resolutions or not?

saqib irfan | 12 years ago | Reply The 'atom bum' that all our anchors & media people keep screaming about is for pakistan's defence.It was made with the blood & tears of pakistan as well as the taxmoney of its citizens( including non-muslims). It's not an islamic bomb,neither is it for the defence of islam.Our religious fanatics should open their closed off brains to try to understand that Islam & pakistan are two seperate things.Pakistan was not created nor is the 'bastion of islam or fortress of islam". The "atom bum" was made thanks to the tax money of muslims,non-muslims,athiests,agnostics & ex-muslims.It is for the protection of all pakistanis regardless of religion or beliefs.

Fahd Shah | 12 years ago | Reply Zardari sold more than half of Pakistan, but if had his way the name of Pakistan would have been AMERI-PAK up till now.... Already it is clear that any body wants to be the president or PM of Pakistan they have to take permission from America.

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