By Dr Shahid Qureshi

London  , 6^th May 2007

A British think tank  - International Institute of Strategic Studies - has recetly published a dossier about Dr AQ Khan and nuclear proliferation. I mentioned to Mark Fitzpatrick at the launch that the word "˜dossier' is associated with lies, deception and dodgy details in the context of what was  presented to the British parliament about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMDs). I told him that more than 170 British companies were involved in supplying to Iraqi chemical and biological weapons program according to Channel 4. When a journalist presented the list of the companies supplying chemical and biological material to Saddam Hussein regime to the Ministry of Defence, the response was "˜ the list is correct'.  No one trusts dodgy dossiers and biased reports; no one, rightly, comments on them.  

I pointed out to Dr John Chipman Director General of the IISS and Mark Fitzpatrick, the editor of the dossier "Nuclear Black Markets: Pakistan, AQ Khan and the rise of proliferation networks", during Q&A session: (a) Is there any nuclear program in the world, in which human and material proliferations were not involved. (b) The report seems unfair because no details are provided about the Israeli nuclear program: the proliferation involved and illegal assistance by the US and Western countries. (There are only two paragraphs about Israeli Nuclear program. (c) What law did Dr A Q Khan violate, and what is the punishment for it.

Mark Fitzpatrick agreed that there is no nuclear program in the world where proliferation did not happen; US program was based on technical knowledge and materials obtained from the German Nazi scientist.  He agreed that the Israelis were involved in proliferation in a round about way. He stated that Israeli program was assisted by 'states' rather than private individuals. It is like saying if an individual is involved in terrorism he or she should brought to justice but if a state engages in terrorism that's OK.

According to my knowledge Dr Khan has not violated any national or international law. He could be charged with smuggling or illegal trading as the British did in the past in exporting drugs (opium) to the  Chinese. But they were not punished; the British even went to war to protect that trade. No nation accepts moral or legal constraints when its strategic interests or security are threatened. That applies even more to small countries threatened by powerful bullies - regional or global. 

The double standards used by the West are clear in the case of Iran. Israel, which is not a signatory of the NPT, has been given access to knowledge and materials for its nuclear weapons program because it is "˜surrounded by hostile neighbours'. But the UN imposed sanctions on Iran, which is a signatory of the NPT, and is pursuing a peaceful nuclear program under IAEA safeguards. What is the point in signing NPT when a country draws no benefit from it? Clearly, the NPT has failed to serve its purpose - to reward those who commit themselves not to pursue a nuclear weapons program. 

J Wilkerson, former chief staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powel said in a TV interview something like, "what we know now is that sources of intelligence on Iraqi WMDs were not credible and Colin Powel was probably misled and deliberately sent to the UN Security Council with false or half true information. The name "˜Chelabi'  - an Iraqi exile - seems central to most of the information US had on biological, chemical and nuclear programs".

In the current scenario in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto is doing exactly what Chelabi did. She says the the "˜mullahs' are going to take control of "˜Pakistani Nukes' as if they are lying in some fruit market. One doesn't expect such irresponsible comments from some one who has been the Prime Minister twice. Pakistan's armed forces are capable of looking after their nuclear assets even though Benzair Bhutto has ubdertaken ito fulfill  the wishes of the enemies of Pakistan. In the name of preventing 'Talibanisation' of Pakistan, she wants de-nuclearisation of Pakistan. She would even undermine the conventional military capability of the country; forget Kashmir, she would have 'peace with India. What threat does India face that it has embarked on a massive investment in defence  despite the majority of its population living on less than two Dollars a day. 

A painting in the reception lobby of NASA's flight facility at Wallop Island shows Tipu Sultan's soldiers launching rockets attacks against the British. He was the first Muslim rocketry warfare hero. The current Pakistani nuclear and missile program seems a revival of the 18th century dream of Tipu Sultan'. The British captured more than 700 rockets and sub-systems of 900 rockets in the battle of Turukhanahally in 1799. Tipu Sultan's army had 27 brigades called Kushoons, and each brigade had a company of rocket men, called Jourks. These rockets had been taken to England by William Congreve and were subjected by the British to what we call "reverse engineering" today.

Tipu Sultan was the only ruler in the world who died in the battlefield fighting the enemy according to a French scholar. Tipu Sultan reigned 1782-1799 and died in May 1799, fighting the combined forces of British and collaborators, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Marattas. He lost the battle because of erstwhile allies becoming enemy collaborators and treachery by his own general - Mir Sadiq. 

Prince Mohsin Ali, a descendant of the collaborators who fought against Tipu Sultan, Nizam of Deccan, who lives in London, invited me for discussion at lunch. He told me that Zulifqar Ali Bhutto used to stay with him in London . Benzair Bhutto's grand father, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, was the prime minister of Nawab of Junagadh. Collaborators continue to be tolerated, even held in awe and given respect; sovereignty, honour and dignity of nations remain under threat of being compromised.

Iraqis have learnt that lesson. They did not only hound out Chelabi and other collabrators, they even attack the queues of candidates wanting to join the police that helps the invaders and occupiers of their country. They have gained a near victory over the occupation by following the principle:  "˜deal with the collaborators first'. Pakistanis should be keeping a close eye on enemy collaborators living inside the country or outside if their country is to navigate successfully through the web of treachery they face. 

(Dr Shahid Qureshi is senior award winning investigative journalist based inh London who writes on security, foreign policy, and terrorism. )