Indira Gandhi had offered nuclear technology to Pakistan: WikiLeaks

According to US cables released by WikiLeaks, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had rejected Indira's offer.

Indira Gandhi, the former Indian prime minister, in 1974. PHOTO: AFP

Indian former prime minister Indira Gandhi had offered nuclear technology to her Pakistani counterpart Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after India’s first nuclear test in 1974, said a Times of India report on Wednesday quoting WikiLeaks.

According to WikiLeaks, Indira had informed her parliament on July 22 that she told Bhutto that New Delhi would be ready to share relevant technology to Pakistan.

“I have explained in my letter to prime minister Bhutto the peaceful nature and the economic purposes of this experiment and have also stated that India is willing to share her nuclear technology with Pakistan in the same way she is willing to share it with other countries, provided proper conditions for understanding and trust are created. I once again repeat this assurance,” WikiLeaks quoted Indira as saying.


The US Embassy cables released by WikiLeaks added that Bhutto had rejected Indira’s offer.

According to a report by IBN-CNN, the cables said that Indira was “evasive about nuclear weaponisation”.

“If our scientists have the basic know-how, without which they couldn't have done this, then any government could have directed them to make a bomb if they had so desired,” she was quoted as saying.
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