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AQ Khan's Interview 30-05-08

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# guardian uk
# Friday May 30 2008

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Four years ago you made a televised confession offering your "deepest regrets and unqualified apologies" for selling nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Was it genuine?
"I never was selling. This is the western garbage that uses the word selling. I never sold anything to anyone. I never sold anything and I never got any money. Nobody has proved this and nobody can prove it.
Was your confession made of your own free will?
"It was not of my own free will. It was handed into my hand."
So why did you agree to go along with it?
"Oh, in the national interest I guess. And the promises which were made."
What promises?
"Freedom, rehabilitation, all these things."
Are you happy that you went along with it?
"No, not now. I was hand-tied. I think it was a mistake. At that time things were not so clear and you couldn't see that people could go back on their words and renege their promises.
Do you hold President Pervez Musharraf personally responsible for this?
One person holds the reins, the others follow ... There are always self-seekers and sycophants and more lies. This goes on.

President Musharraf might say that American evidence forced him to act against you?

The Americans presented to the whole world the proof against Iraq. And you know what it was. And now about Iran, and so it goes on. It's unbelievable that Bush and Colin Powell and Dick Cheney and Condolleezza Rice are bringing lies, lies, lies, bringing photos and false documents ... it can happen everywhere.

Do you feel any responsibility for the nuclear programmes in North Korea, Libya or Iran?

No ... you must have read that the Swiss president destroyed papers that included weapons blueprints. [That shows that] the western countries have all those blueprints and technology and papers and know-how. So they were supplying to everyone. They were supplying to us, they were supplying to them. The only thing is that they were using the same route as we were using.
Which route was that?
Dubai. It was a free port. We were importing all our things from Dubai and all the other countries were importing from Dubai.

Some people say you were running a "nuclear supermarket", Time magazine called you a "merchant of menace". How do you feel about these terms?

I don't care. It doesn't bother me at all. They don't like our God, they don't like our prophet, they don't like our holy book, the Qur'an. So how could they like me?
... I have come to realise that one person writes � sorry to use the word � a ****pile and everyone picks up and quotes him whether it is true or not. It is meant for the western public, the western media, who are mostly totally ignorant of the facts here. [they say that] my house is a huge white villa, I have 43 villas here, I have so many bank accounts. Nobody could ever prove anything. [They say that] I had a very huge $10m hotel in Timbuktu. You should have gone and seen � it was an eight-room mud brick house where the poor people reside.

So you are not a rich man?

Never was, never will be.
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The IAEA wants to send its investigators to speak with you. Would you speak to them?

Why should I talk to them? I am under no obligation. We are not signatory to NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]. I have not violated any international laws. So why should I talk to them?
So even if it were possible, you wouldn't?
Why should I? This is my internal affair and my country's affair � why should I talk to them?
They say they want to make sure no other country can illegally acquire the bomb.

Why don't you talk about Israel, why don't you talk about South Africa. Why did you supply and help South Africa to manufacture six bombs ... this is a discriminatory approach. That is wrong with us and it should be wrong with them also.
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There's been a lot of speculation that you are keeping an "insurance policy" -- documents that shows links between nuclear smuggling and the Pakistani military � with your daughter in London. Are you?

No such thing happened. MI6 has spoken to my daughter, they have been to her house. I did not keep any official paper in my house or anywhere. I know it's an official secret. � When I left I had a few ballpoints and a small table calendar and nothing else.
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What did you do for the celebrations to mark 10 years since Pakistan became a nuclear power?

I stayed at home. I saw on the TV what was going on, I saw on the newspapers. Some people sent flowers, some people phoned and congratulated.

How did you feel?

Two days are important in the history of Pakistan � the 14th of August, when Pakistan was created, and this 28th May, when at least Pakistan got the capacity of protecting itself against aggression and threats and blackmailing. It was a very big day. And since you have been a part of it, you feel proud of being such an historical movement.

What has Pakistan gained from having the bomb?

Peace. No attacks from India in the past 36 years. Otherwise there might have been a war in Kashmir, there might have been a war in Punjab ... that has given something, some sense of security to the country.

How has it defined Pakistan's relationship with the west. You said in the past the west was hostile to Islam. So what has it done?

You know very well the west never likes any country to be a bit independent, whether it is making a bomb, or whether it is financial position and stuff. They want to keep them under thumb. It is not giving any threat to anyone ... We have to look after our interests as the western countries look after their interests.
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Where are you speaking from?

I am inside my house. I'm in the living room. I can see the guards. You can see them, they are all around.

Do you hope your house arrest will be lifted soon?

There's always hope as long as the world is there. As long as you are living there is always hope. Without hope you can't survive.



After his release what can we say about this shadowy figure, the Nuclear scandal still haunts Pakistan who is behind it? Discuss.
 
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I think he was a national hero and I feel so do many Pakistanis I am sure that when the PML(N) will be elected he will be given the freedom he once held I think he has comeout quite openly and I am sure he won't do anything to dishonour the nation and its credibility.
 
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Bane this man was is and will always be our national hero...right behind QUAID-E-AZAM....but what he said we knew it he didn't need to say it....i still respect him and love him but feel dissapointed that he started this...now the world will come after pakistan regarding the issue again....why dig up graves.....did we ever for a minute think it was him who was "supplying" anything....no...and yet he came out and said it in clear words...
 
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He was pressured by Musharraf his adress was brief read of from a paper and clearly looked false, I trust him when he is in free media not when he is arrest and looking at a piece of paper.
 
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I want a investigation into this scandal, we should try AQ Khan he is guilty until proven why not. He should prove his innocence this is the only way we can remove the doubts about his loyalty to this nation. The case should be taken up either by a Judicial inquirer or by the Parliament it should be in camera.
 
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He has justified himself alot of times in free media and plus how can he alone be responsible for leaking secrets it isn't something he can pass on via e-mail or something.
 
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He has justified himself alot of times in free media and plus how can he alone be responsible for leaking secrets it isn't something he can pass on via e-mail or something.

That is not the solution, the solution is to make him guilty and try him in camera and if the verdict is guilty/not guilty let that be the word that is only way we can un chain pakistan from this cliche, "Nuclear Black Market". This a stain that will haunt Pakistan until we try those who created it and AQ is part of it guilty/not guilty that is to be proved.
 
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I would support any such trial after atleast the political leadership is also bought to justice it would be a disgrace to bring him to trial before alot of other people that deserve to be their first.
 
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I would support any such trial after atleast the political leadership is also bought to justice it would be a disgrace to bring him to trial before alot of other people that deserve to be their first.

Thats silly since peoples vote is justice and impartial. If you dont see a leader in the next national election being in Gov that is because he has failed to lead and deliver. The past witch hunts against politicians was shameful and disgracefull history which led to back doors for dictatorships. We must avoid witch hunts, if you want the system to work than let it work on the basis that we can vote people and and out. Otherwise we will have another decade of dictatorship at hand.
 
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Thats silly since peoples vote is justice and impartial. If you dont see a leader in the next national election being in Gov that is because he has failed to lead and deliver. The past witch hunts against politicians was shameful and disgracefull history which led to back doors for dictatorships. We must avoid witch hunts, if you want the system to work than let it work on the basis that we can vote people and and out. Otherwise we will have another decade of dictatorship at hand.

Yes and if the people were given the power to vote then trust me they would vote for AQ Khan to be out of jail and away from the courts infact many would even want him to lead a parade on 23rd march.

Before a full blown scandal I suggest we review decisions taken by leaders like Musharraf because they have clearly violated the constitution and before insider policy is reviewed we need to sort out some open and shut cases.
 
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Man wat are u smoking ?

you have been reading the law books back to front :disagree: he is not guilty until proven otherwise.

wrong you should prove him guilty

Dont think 99% of people doubt his loyalty to this country.

If pakistani courts find him not guilty, you think that will be the end of this "nuclear black market" scandal and west would be satisfied?
i dont think he was running a one man "nuclear black market" to buy villas and hotels, ISI / GoP would have been long on this tail and he would have been hanged for Treason. we bought stuff from black market and we didnt buy from our selves, and who were willing to sell to us for money would also have been willing to sell to other countries. and if pakistan did sell nuclear secreats then im sure he didnt do it alone and not to buy himself villas.
:coffee:
regards
AT

Have you been living under a rock, AQ has self claimed himself guilty and allowed himself to be punished. There hasn't been a impartial inquiry on this since it happened, the guilty should be brought to justice. He is free man now I doubt AQ will decline any such trial knowing if he is telling the truth he will regain his honour and be cleared from all that smear and dirt that has been alleged on him.

Why wouldn't they accept the verdict, after all they have marked this Judiciary a free Judiciary with god knows what awards not recieved for being so active in justice. It would be against their own words if they declined to accept it. The bottom line is that every one wants a verdict here was he guilty or not if he isn't than who is?
 
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That is not the solution, the solution is to make him guilty and try him in camera and if the verdict is guilty/not guilty let that be the word that is only way we can un chain pakistan from this cliche, "Nuclear Black Market". This a stain that will haunt Pakistan until we try those who created it and AQ is part of it guilty/not guilty that is to be proved.

even musharraf wont lik to get him tried. do u think he was the only one involved??? he however was made a scapegoat. also wat he or army did was necessary for our nuclear programme or otherwise we wouldnt have been a neuclear power. y should we try our scientists??? didnt all the countries with neuclear weapon traded in Black maket???
we should respect our heros or else no one will respect us
 
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even musharraf wont lik to get him tried. do u think he was the only one involved??? he however was made a scapegoat. also wat he or army did was necessary for our nuclear programme or otherwise we wouldnt have been a neuclear power. y should we try our scientists??? didnt all the countries with neuclear weapon traded in Black maket???
we should respect our heros or else no one will respect us

What? He made AQ into a Political figure a don of the under world?:lol: Musharraf did try him in the shortest trail in history, and than made him confess to the nation, placed him under house arrest for 8 years, shut down AQ laboratory in Kahota. This is all recorded events. Heros are those with honour, I am sure AQ totally wants a trial he is convicted of allegedly running a nuclear black market, and he is no longer part of the N-program it over and done 2 decades ago. He's just a political figure, that was created by Zia, its his own fault he shouldn't have participated in confession he should have stood on not guilty until proven.
 
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What? He made AQ into a Political figure a don of the under world?:lol: Musharraf did try him in the shortest trail in history, and than made him confess to the nation, placed him under house arrest for 8 years, shut down AQ laboratory in Kahota. This is all recorded events. Heros are those with honour, I am sure AQ totally wants a trial he is convicted of allegedly running a nuclear black market, and he is no longer part of the N-program it over and done 2 decades ago. He's just a political figure, that was created by Zia, its his own fault he shouldn't have participated in confession he should have stood on not guilty until proven.

shortest trial in history... and wat was that?? discussion in president house:undecided: US was targetin our neuclear programe when musharraf made him do this. that is also the reason y he confessed. he actually saved our generals a$$. wat makes u think they were not involved in this whole thing???
u r being so naive by sayin that he was jsut a political figure created by zia. no he wasnt. he was one of the main guys leadin our neuclear programe. everyone agree with it includin all the generals, political leaders and scientists.
u talk about being guilty?? wat is he guilty for?? dealin in black market where every nation with nuclear weapon traded??? in other words u r sayin that u didnt need nuclear bomb and u r disappointed that u have got a nuclear programe which was completed after tradin in black market. how else are u gonna get a nuclear programe?? were u expactin to buy some bombs from US or may be russia
 
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