Months before he became President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari told the United States Ambassador in Pakistan that if he had his way, he would allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to question Abdul Qadeer Khan, the nuclear scientist accused of running a proliferation racket, but IAEA must workout a business deal.
Mr. Zardari is quoted as saying so in a U.S. diplomatic cable dated April 18, 2008 (150415: secret), accessed by WikiLeaks.
In April 2008, a few days after the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) took office, Ambassador Anne W. Patterson and Deputy Chief of the Mission Peter Bodde met Mr. Zardari, the party's co-chairperson, to seek assurances that the new government would not release Dr. Khan.
The PPP leader told the U.S. officials: “I told Foreign Minister [Shah Mahmud] Qureshi, who has no decision-making role on this issue, to stop talking about Khan.” He alleged that “false information was being leaked” to embarrass the PPP.
“If I had my way,” said Mr. Zardari, “I would give the IAEA access to Khan, but they must workout a business deal.”
Giving away no secret about how Mr. Zardari demands bribery, but IAEA being a global organization was not in a position to fulfill Zardari's demands, the cable mentioned.
Mr. Zardari is quoted as saying so in a U.S. diplomatic cable dated April 18, 2008 (150415: secret), accessed by WikiLeaks.
In April 2008, a few days after the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) took office, Ambassador Anne W. Patterson and Deputy Chief of the Mission Peter Bodde met Mr. Zardari, the party's co-chairperson, to seek assurances that the new government would not release Dr. Khan.
The PPP leader told the U.S. officials: “I told Foreign Minister [Shah Mahmud] Qureshi, who has no decision-making role on this issue, to stop talking about Khan.” He alleged that “false information was being leaked” to embarrass the PPP.
“If I had my way,” said Mr. Zardari, “I would give the IAEA access to Khan, but they must workout a business deal.”
Giving away no secret about how Mr. Zardari demands bribery, but IAEA being a global organization was not in a position to fulfill Zardari's demands, the cable mentioned.
No comments:
Post a Comment