Dr. Qadeer responsible for N-proliferation: Musharraf

[Aamir Hussain]

Just a suggestion, let us try to keep this thread focussed on the decision of Musharraf to incarcerate A.Q. Khan and the veracity of that decision through facts and not make sweeping statements about the characters of both the gentlemen.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Some more food for thought:

Pakistan's Nuclear Program: Setting the Record Straight
PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Defence Journal, August, 2010.

Columnist Haris N Khan attempts to set the record straight about the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme

“They combine a mad love of country with an equally mad indifference to life, their own as well as others. They are cunning, unscrupulous, and inspired.”
- Alfred Hitchcock

While narrating his version of the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program on a private T.V. channel recently, Dr. A Q Khan made highly disparaging and totally baseless remarks about the late Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan, Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), 1972-1991. He described the latter as “incompetent” with a mediocre academic and professional background. He also failed to explain how could a person with such ‘doubtful’ credentials continue as Chairman of PAEC for 19 years, under diametrically opposed governments and previously hold important positions in the international nuclear field. A Q Khan, who happens to be a copper metallurgist, appears to be suffering from a state of megalomania, but it seems, he has, of late, lost all sense of proportion.

Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan was a nuclear engineer of international stature with a brilliant academic record. He graduated in Physics and Mathematics from Government College, Lahore in 1946 and won an Academic Roll of Honour.[1] He subsequently obtained a B.Sc in Electrical Engineering in 1949 from Engineering College, Punjab University, Lahore, where he served as an Assistant Professor before being awarded a Fulbright and Rotary International Scholarship in 1951.[2] He thus obtained an M.S in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University, USA in 1952 and then proceeded to the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) for post-graduate research work till 1956.[3]

While at the IIT, he was elected in 1953 as Member of the Sigma-Xi Research Society of America for noteworthy achievement in scientific research.[4] His IIT years also led him to work with the Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, U.S.A. and as a system planning engineer with the Commonwealth Edison Company, Chicago - the large power utility in the United States that pioneered the construction of an industrial nuclear power reactor.[5] In 1956, he was selected for the “Atoms for Peace” Program.

He entered the international nuclear field after graduating as a nuclear engineer from the Argonne National Laboratory’s International Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (IINSE).[6] His practical research experience in nuclear engineering began with work on the “Modifications of CP-5 Reactor Design” as a Research Associate in Argonne’s Nuclear Engineering Division.[7] He then proceeded to work as a Reactor Design Engineer on the “Thermodynamic Design of Japan Research Reactor-2” in the Reactor Division of AMF-Atomics, Conn. USA. It was this company which designed and built the Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor-1 (PARR) for Pakistan during the 1960s.

As one of the rising generation of gifted and dynamic nuclear engineers, in 1958 he was the first Asian to be selected by the first Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Sterling Cole for a technical position in Professional-Grade P5 in the IAEA’s Nuclear Power and Reactors Division.[8] After obtaining the necessary approval of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Malik Feroz Khan Noon,[9] he joined the Agency where he served as Senior Officer, Nuclear Power and Reactor Technology and Application. He eventually rose to become Director of the IAEA’s Reactor Engineering and Fuel Cycle activities, a position he held till 1972. He was known in the IAEA as "The Reactor Khan."[10]

He served as a Member of the IAEA Board of Governors for 12 years and as leader of Pakistan’s delegations to 19 IAEA General Conferences. He was also elected Chairman of the IAEA Board of Governors from 1986-87 and was Fellow of the International Nuclear Academy, the American Nuclear Society, Member of the International Consultative Group on Nuclear Energy, and was the first President of Pakistan Nuclear Society.[11]

As a senior IAEA staff member, his major responsibilities included developing and implementing programs in the field of research in reactor utilization in nuclear centres;[12] review of design, construction and operation of demonstration power reactors in USA and Canada (1960-1965); technical and economic assessment of nuclear power reactors; world survey of nuclear power plants for developing countries;[13] construction and operating experience with nuclear reactors; fast breeder reactors and nuclear desalination.

He also organized for the IAEA more than 20 international technical and scientific conferences and seminars on heavy water reactors; advanced gas-cooled reactors; plutonium utilization; performance of nuclear power plants; problems and prospects of introducing nuclear power in developing countries; small and medium power reactors, and coordinating programs for research in theoretical estimation of uranium depletion and plutonium build-up in power reactors in the USA, USSR, UK, France and Canada.[14] In 1961, he prepared a technical feasibility study on behalf of the IAEA on small power reactor projects for the United States Atomic Energy Commission.[15]

Due to his outstanding competence in the field he was chosen to lead the first major nuclear power assessment that the IAEA carried out for the United Nations in the Philippines.[16] He also served as Scientific Secretary to the Third and Fourth UN International Geneva Conferences on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1964 and 1971 respectively.[17]

Earlier, Dr. Homi J. Bhabha of India and Dr. Abdus Salam had served as Scientific Secretaries of these conferences. He was also instrumental in securing necessary support of the IAEA for Dr. Abdus Salam in setting up the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.[18] While at the IAEA, he remained a regular unofficial consultant to PAEC on numerous technical and other matters. Together with the then Chairman of PAEC, Dr. I.H. Usmani he helped in the establishment of the 5 MW Pakistan Atomic Research Reactor under the Atoms for Peace Program and the 137 MWe Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) under the Colombo Plan.[19]

It should also be noted here that Dr. A Q Khan had also belittled Dr. Abdus Salam, Pakistan’s only Nobel Laureate. His insinuations against Dr. Salam and his lack of knowledge about the importance of theoretical physics in any bomb program was clearly evident. After all J. Robert Oppenheimer was also a theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley. He is best known for his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, the World War II project that developed the first nuclear weapons for which he is often referred to as the "father of the atomic bomb." Edward Teller, the father of the hydrogen bomb was also a theoretical physicist, so was Homi Jehangir Bhaba, the father of India’s nuclear program. In addition, Prof. Salam was instrumental in the setting up of SUPARCO and PAEC during their formative years and in arranging for the training of hundreds of Pakistani scientists and engineers in western nuclear establishments and universities. Salam was also helpful in setting up the Theoretical Physics Group in PAEC in 1972 which would later develop the designs of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

Therefore, it was in this backdrop and in view of his stature in the international nuclear field that Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto met Munir Ahmad Khan for a fateful meeting in Vienna in October 1965 in the wake of the September war with India. During this meeting, Munir Khan briefed the then Pakistani Foreign Minister on all that he knew of India’s fast growing nuclear program as he had visited India’s nuclear facilities in Trombay and both agreed on the inevitable need for Pakistan to
cont....

 

[Aamir Hussain]

cont...

acquire nuclear capability.[20] Therefore, Mr. Bhutto arranged a meeting between President Ayub and Munir Ahmad Khan on December 11, 1965 at the Dorchester Hotel.

When Munir came out of the meeting, he informed an impatient Bhutto, who was pacing up and down in the lobby that “the President did not agree.” Bhutto instantly remarked, “Don’t worry, our turn will come!”[21] This marked the beginning of an alliance that was akin to that of Nehru and Bhabha in India and from then on, both would often meet in Pakistan and Europe and discuss Pakistan’s nuclear future.

Therefore, one of the first steps taken by Mr. Bhutto towards the development of the nuclear program was to summon a meeting of senior scientists and engineers at Multan on January 20, 1972. Prior to this, Bhutto had called Munir Khan from IAEA to prepare a feasibility report on Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure.[22] At the Multan meeting, Mr. Bhutto announced the appointment of Munir Ahmad Khan as the new Chairman of PAEC and made him directly responsible to the Chief Executive.[23] At the inauguration of KANUPP on November 28, 1972 Mr. Bhutto recalled his association with Munir Ahmad Khan:

“Since 1965, I have been in close touch with you (Chairman PAEC) and we have had many occasions to discuss how atomic energy can help in the development of our country. That is why soon after assuming this office, I not only placed the Atomic Energy Commission under my direct control but asked you to return to the country and serve the nation.”[24]

Without going into details, from then on PAEC initiated work on the complete nuclear fuel cycle and following India’s nuclear test of 1974, on the nuclear weapons program. However, the task confronting Munir Khan and PAEC was Herculean by any standard. The total manpower comprising scientists, engineers of various disciplines in PAEC was 283[25] since half the manpower training in the previous decade was Bengali and had left for Bangladesh. The task ahead included the successful commission of KANUPP and acquiring complete mastery over the nuclear fuel cycle, which provides a country with the option of going for the highly enriched uranium or plutonium or both routes to producing fissile material for an atomic bomb.

Therefore, to build a uranium bomb through the highly enriched uranium route a country needs the following plants and facilities:[26]

1. Uranium deposits

2. A uranium mine

3. A uranium mill (for processing uranium ore that usually contains less than 1
percent uranium into uranium oxide concentrate, or yellowcake).

4. A uranium conversion plant (for purifying yellowcake and converting it into uranium
hexafluoride (UF6) or uranium tetrachloride (UCl4), the material processed
in the enrichment plant.

5. An enrichment plant (for enriching the uranium hexafluoride gas or uranium
tetrachloride in the isotope U–235).

6. A capability for converting the enriched uranium hexafluoride gas or uranium
tetrachloride into solid uranium oxide or metal.


Hence, PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan established the following infrastructure for developing the HEU route:

Development of Enriched Uranium Route for Producing Fissile Material by PAEC: 1972-1981

Process/ Step Location/Facility Launched Completed Product

Uranium Exploration Baghalchur, D G Khan 1972 Ongoing Uranium Ore

Uranium Processing Baghalchur-1 (BC-1) 1975 1978 Yellow Cake/
Uranium Concentrate U308

Uranium Conversion CPC- DG Khan 1975 1980 Uranium Oxide U02
Uranium Tetra fluoride, UF4
Uranium Hexafluoride Gas,UF6

Uranium Enrichment Chaklala, Sihala, Kahuta 1974 1980
Enriched Uranium Gas U-235

Uranium Metallurgy Uranium Metal Laboratory 1977-78 1980-81
Enriched Uranium U-235 Metal

Moreover, to build a plutonium bomb, through the plutonium route, a country needs the following plants and facilities:[27]

1. Uranium deposits.

2. A uranium mine.

3. A uranium mill (for processing uranium ore containing less than 1 percent
uranium into uranium oxide concentrate, or yellowcake).

4. A uranium purification plant (to further improve the yellowcake into reactor grade
uranium dioxide).

5. A fuel fabrication plant (to manufacture the fuel elements placed in the reactor),
including a capability to fabricate zircaloy or aluminium tubing.

6. A research or power reactor moderated by heavy water or graphite.

7. A heavy-water production plant or a reactor-grade graphite production plant.

8. A reprocessing plant.

Hence, PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan established the following infrastructure for developing the Plutonium route:

Development of Plutonium Route for Producing Fissile Material by PAEC: 1972-1997

Process/ Step Location/Facility Launched Completed Product

Uranium Exploration Baghalchur, D G Khan 1972 Ongoing Uranium Ore

Uranium Processing Baghalchur-1 (BC-1) 1975 1978 Yellow Cake/
Uranium Concentrate U308

Uranium Conversion CPC- DG Khan 1975 1980 Uranium Oxide U02
Uranium Tetra fluoride, UF4
Uranium Hexafluoride Gas,UF6

Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Kundian 1976 1980
Nuclear Fuel Elements for Nuclear Reactors

Plutonium Reactor 50 MW Khushab 1985 1997 Weapons-Grade Pu-239

Heavy Water Production Khushab Complex 1985 1997 Heavy Water

Tritium Production Khushab Complex 1987 1987 Tritium Fusion Fuel

Fuel Reprocessing New Labs, PINSTECH 1973 1981 Pu-239 and Pu Metal
Plutonium Metallurgy

These milestones were achieved in 15-20 Directorates of PAEC[28] comprising over 20 labs and projects as Munir Khan recalled in 1999:

“Many sources were tapped after the decision to go nuclear. We were simultaneously working on 20 labs and projects under the administrative control of PAEC, every one the size of Khan Research Laboratories.”[29]

These projects comprised uranium exploration, refining and processing, conversion, and fuel fabrication and reprocessing facilities, that were set up as part of a long-term comprehensive nuclear plan prepared by Munir Khan in May 1972.[30] With regard to the development of nuclear weapons and its associated infrastructure, Munir Khan recalled:

“While we were building capabilities in the nuclear fuel cycle, we started in parallel the design of a nuclear device, with its trigger mechanism, physics calculations, production of metal, making precision mechanical components, high-speed electronics, diagnostics, and testing facilities. For each one of them, we established different laboratories.”[31]

A Theoretical Physics Group was founded in PAEC Dec. 1972 and was tasked with developing the design of the nuclear device,[32] while a Directorate of Technical Development under Mr. Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi was set up in PAEC in March 1974 to coordinate the work of all the specialized groups being set up to work on the development and testing of nuclear weapons.[33] On June 15, 1974, Prime Minster Zulfikar Ali Bhutto directed PAEC to initiate work on the atomic bomb.[34]

Prior to this, Munir Ahmad Khan had called a meeting to begin work on the nuclear device in a meeting held on March 1974 when a brilliant mechanical engineer, Mr. Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi was appointed head of the Wah Group and the Directorate of Technical Development (DTD). The Wah group was later expanded to include chemical, mechanical, explosive, and precision engineers and was tasked to handle implosion hydrodynamics, neutron sources, high explosive testing, triggering mechanism for the device, and precision engineering for the nuclear device.[35]

On March 25, 1974, Munir Ahmad Khan, Hafeez Qureshi and Dr. Riazuddin held a meeting with the then head of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Lt. Gen. Qamar Ali Mirza,to set up a plant to manufacture His Majesty's Explosive (HMX) for use in the explosive lenses of the proposed implosion-design fission device. The project was codenamed "Research."[36] The Theoretical Physics Group headed by Dr. Riazuddin had completed the first conceptual and theoretical design of the nuclear device whose report was submitted to Munir Ahmad Khan in December 1976.[37]

Moreover, PAEC had mastered the fuel cycle by 1980 and completed the nuclear test sites at Chaghi and carried out the first cold test of a working nuclear device on March 11, 1983.[38] A second cold test was undertaken shortly afterwards which was witnessed by General K.M. Arif, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, and Munir Ahmad Khan. This was followed by a series of 24 cold tests till the early 1990s wherein different weapon designs were cold tested and their validity was demonstrated when PAEC carried out six nuclear tests on May 28 and 30 at Chaghi and Kharan respectively.[39]

Dr. A Q Khan claims to have carried out only one cold test in 1984 and to have informed President Zia in writing. However, PAEC carried out not one but two dozen cold tests, between 1983 and 1990. While recalling the first cold test and the journey to nuclear capability, Munir Khan would later recall in a speech delivered to honour the Chaghi heroes in 1999:

“While we were building capabilities in the nuclear fuel cycle, we started in parallel the design of a nuclear device, with its trigger mechanism, physics calculations, production of metal, making precision mechanical components, high-speed electronics, diagnostics, and testing facilities. For each one of them, we established different laboratories. In 1980 we completed the tunnels at Chaghi. On March 11, 1983, we successfully conducted our first cold test of a working nuclear device. Dr Ishfaq, Dr Samar Mubarakmand, and many others were there. That evening, I went to General Zia with the news that Pakistan was now ready to make a nuclear device. The team that conducted that test was basically the same that carried out the Chaghi test last year. I also want to put this on record that we conducted this cold test long before the [fissile][40] material was available for the real test.”[41]

The second PAEC cold test in May 1983 was witnessed by General K. M. Arif who acknowledged it and other PAEC cold tests in Deception, thus:

 

[Waffen_SS]

Hi,

I've got this article in scanned form with the photos with the first ever photo of the cold test sites where PAEC carried out several cold tests during the 1980s. But how can I upload it here?

 

[anoop]

one question is it necessary to have nuclear bomb design different form those of others or design are generally same with little difference
or
other nations do not provide u design free

what is cold test?

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Hi,

I've got this article in scanned form with the photos with the first ever photo of the cold test sites where PAEC carried out several cold tests during the 1980s. But how can I upload it here?

I do not know. I am having a hard myself in uploading the full document. The last paragraph of this article says it all for this thread.

 

[Waffen_SS]

one question is it necessary to have nuclear bomb design different form those of others or design are generally same with little difference
or
other nations do not provide u design free

what is cold test?

The basic principle of a nuclear weapon based on a gun-type or an implosion design is generally the same. Even if one gets a design for free, its trigger mechanism and all the other non-nuclear components and their machining, mating and fabrication along with the production of fissile material has to be done in-house through indigenous R&D.

A cold test is the actual detonation of a complete nuclear weapon without the fissile material in it, i.e. It comprises natural or depleted uranium metal in place of highly enriched uranium or plutonium, while all the other components such as the explosives lenses, electronic triggering circuits, reflectors and tampers, etc are exactly the same as in an actual device. When sufficient number of neutrons are produced in the core with the triggering of the lenses and of the neutron source, the data is recorded through diagnostic equipment and shows the performance of the device as per the theoretical design parameters.

This data is then used to develop advanced and more efficient and miniaturized designs which are again cold tested. PAEC under Munir Ahmad Khan carried out 25 cold tests from March 1983 onwards till the early 1990s in which 4-5 designs were cold tested and improved.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Cold Test is an all systems test for exploding a nuclear device without the actual fission reaction.

 

[nightcrawler]

Hi,

I've got this article in scanned form with the photos with the first ever photo of the cold test sites where PAEC carried out several cold tests during the 1980s. But how can I upload it here?

I will really appreciate if you upload those pics.
You go to tinypic.com
thare you see upload button>browse the pic & proceed....after each upload it will provide you with various set of links. copy/paste the links from Forum code section into this forum reply box

It will start something like

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Here is the link for the whole article

Pakistan's Nuclear Program: Setting the Record Straight

Please focus on the last paragraph of this article -- it is an indicator as to what AQK is doing to the image of Pakistan. Do read it and let me know your opinions. THX

 

[moha199]

In the very least that I can say about you that by your language & writing skills; AQK not but you are the characterless man

Well if my truth about AQ KHAN who has no respect for ladies one 90 years old the second 65 years old, makes me characterless person then i am proud to be like that! But truth is truth! how dare this cheap person call someone's mother a mujra woman? someones wife a call girl? and someone a FAG? honestly AQ KHAN is proven characterless now after his statements! regarding personal attacks and national level disrespect of Pakistan! i have no respect for a person like him

 

[LeGenD]

Sher ki aik din ki zindagi geedar ki so saal ki zindagi se behtar hay.

My brother, this philosophy is best suited for soldiers in the battlefield. If I am wrong, than pardon my ignorance.

And before people start accusing me of being emotional... I would like to draw their attention to one final point... Pakistan is not Iraq... we do not have the oil that Iraq has... You would be a fool to think that America would even consider going to a useless battle and devote so many resources to the Pakistani front and even risk a simultaneous nuclear annihilation of India, Pakistan and possibly Israel too? To occupy or destroy a country like Pakistan (which till its very end is offering friendship and support to an old ally)... What good would America get in bombing Pakistan or even occupying say Peshawar for heaven sake?

An aged person once conveyed to me an interesting reason behind the lack of enthusiasm in invading Pakistan. That reason is: "who wants to feed 180 million hungry mouths through own pockets?"

Regarding Israel: It is located over 3000 km away from Pakistan. Until Ghauri III comes in to service, we cannot target it. Also, Israel is improving its ABM capability. Therefore, success factor would be an issue for us.

Also, we need to keep in mind the threat of the dreaded samson option (nuclear strikes on all Islamic nations).

During perilous times, sane minded leadership is a blessing.

A famous Pakistani nuclear scientist, Munir Ahmad Khan, once wisely stated this: "We have to understand that nuclear weapons are not a play thing to be bandied publicly. They have to be treated with respect and responsibility. While they can destroy the enemy, they can also invite self destruction."

 

[Aamir Hussain]

LeGenD:

My friend well said and aptly put. Sanity is in short supply these days in our country of pure.;-)

 

[Muhammad-Bin-Qasim]

My brother, this philosophy is best suited for soldiers in the battlefield. If I am wrong, than pardon my ignorance.


An aged person once conveyed to me an interesting reason behind the lack of enthusiasm in invading Pakistan. That reason is: "who wants to feed 180 million hungry mouths through own pockets?"

Regarding Israel: It is located over 3000 km away from Pakistan. Until Ghauri III comes in to service, we cannot target it. Also, Israel is improving its ABM capability. Therefore, success factor would be an issue for us.

Also, we need to keep in mind the threat of the dreaded samson option (nuclear strikes on all Islamic nations).

During perilous times, sane minded leadership is a blessing.

A famous Pakistani nuclear scientist, Munir Ahmad Khan, once wisely stated this: "We have to understand that nuclear weapons are not a play thing to be bandied publicly. They have to be treated with respect and responsibility. While they can destroy the enemy, they can also invite self destruction."

My dear LeGend bhai... Of course you know me well I do take onboard your observations and viewpoint... However I disagree with the sudden recourse to "Oh America is so mighty that they can annihilate us by pushing one button type of mentality". No one is wanting a war with America and as you put it interestingly, America is certainly not wanting a war with Pakistan... however we do need to wake up from this coma of America is God astughfirullah... We have been living like that for decades and although we keep getting told that America is our friend and not a Master the reality is that we are slaves to America and as you yourself have put it, it is taken as our majboori... This attitude has given us little benefit other than perhaps our victory over the Commies in Afghanistan because without American help we could not have done what we did... However I would hope that you do realize that there was a lot more to the Afghan/USSR war than just American help... We were helped by God Almighty Himself in it!!!

Please try to understand my point... You speak of ABM defence as if it were something our enemies rely on with a 100 percent satisfaction... That is not the case... Pakistan is the target my dear... Like it or not... Put your head in the sand like an ostrich OR NOT... the reality remains the same... and this is what I want you to see... We need to sort out our camp as soon as possible... otherwise I am seeing Pakistan in terrible danger eventually!!!

Be assertive thats all... Start working on strategies to outmaneuver American influence... I m being very serious about this... You may think I m kidding and taking inspiration from video games but I am beginning to see things in the west that are pointing to me loud and clear that Islam and the west is on a collision course for certain... America is already taking a beating from multiple sources including its allies... Why should we be any different? It is of utmost importance that American influence be sent back to its shores across the Atlantic... (and this is good advice for the Europeans as well) Either we stay in denial and find ourselves weaker than before... or we take the opportunity and start some covert operations in motion...

Are you a military person btw?

Oh and Aamir... On a point that you mentioned... I know this much that America cannot take out our nukes within the first wave of its strike... We do have strike capability in case of war... Sorry this is something that I think your information is not very accurate

 

[MastanKhan]

Are you a military person btw?

Oh and Aamir... On a point that you mentioned... I know this much that America cannot take out our nukes within the first wave of its strike... We do have strike capability in case of war... Sorry this is something that I think your information is not very accurate

Sir,

That was not Aamir---that was me----you can address it to me----thankyou----.

Are you still looking for an army person to get your answers!!!