Islamabad:
Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr A Q Khan has dropped a bombshell. In a four-page letter written to his Dutch wife in 2003, the contents of which have been made public now, Khan has listed some shocking details about Pakistan's nuclear proliferation programme.
In his letter Khan writes, "Perhaps with the blessings of Benazir and her defence adviser General Imtiaz, I was told to give a set of drawings and some components to the Iranians. The names and addresses of suppliers were also given to the Iranians."
(Watch Video: In October 2007, Benazir spoke to NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt on the AQ Khan episode.)
His letter also mentions about North Korea: "A now retired general took $3 million from the North Koreans through me, and asked me to give some drawings and machines."
The letter has also mentioned the Chinese link to Pakistan's nuclear proliferation. It said: "We put up a centrifuge plant at Hanzhong. The Chinese gave us drawings of the nuclear weapon and 50 kg of enriched uranium and gas stocks needed for an enrichment plant."
However, in an interview to NDTV a couple of years ago, Benazir had said that the Pakistan government knew nothing about the transfer of nuclear knowhow to Iran. Speaking to Barkha Dutt in October 2007 in London, the former Pakistani prime minister put the onus on disgraced scientist AQ Khan, saying that he had sold nuclear secrets, but was later pardoned.
In his letter Khan writes, "Perhaps with the blessings of Benazir and her defence adviser General Imtiaz, I was told to give a set of drawings and some components to the Iranians. The names and addresses of suppliers were also given to the Iranians."
(Watch Video: In October 2007, Benazir spoke to NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt on the AQ Khan episode.)
His letter also mentions about North Korea: "A now retired general took $3 million from the North Koreans through me, and asked me to give some drawings and machines."
The letter has also mentioned the Chinese link to Pakistan's nuclear proliferation. It said: "We put up a centrifuge plant at Hanzhong. The Chinese gave us drawings of the nuclear weapon and 50 kg of enriched uranium and gas stocks needed for an enrichment plant."
However, in an interview to NDTV a couple of years ago, Benazir had said that the Pakistan government knew nothing about the transfer of nuclear knowhow to Iran. Speaking to Barkha Dutt in October 2007 in London, the former Pakistani prime minister put the onus on disgraced scientist AQ Khan, saying that he had sold nuclear secrets, but was later pardoned.
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