By David McGlinchey
Global Security Newswire

WASHINGTON — In a sharp rebuttal of longstanding allegations, a former Pakistani general said last month that his country had nothing to gain and much to lose by sending nuclear technology to North Korea.

“It is impossible that you would trade nuclear technology for anything, there is nothing worth it.  Especially nothing from North Korea,” said retired Pakistani Brig. Gen. Feroz Khan, now a visiting scholar at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

The New York Times reported last year that Pakistan had given North Korea nuclear assistance in exchange for missile technology.  U.S. officials recently sanctioned a Pakistani company that Washington accuses of providing the nuclear assistance (see GSN, April 1).

A primary reason that Pakistan would not trade nuclear technology for North Korean missiles is China, according to Khan.  China has opposed the idea of a nuclear Korean Peninsula and maintains close ties with Islamabad.

“One country Pakistan cannot afford to anger at any cost is China … it is certain, we will never do a thing to anger China.  We would lose them as a strategic partner,” he told Global Security Newswire in an interview.

Khan also faulted the United States for its allegations without providing proof of the alleged transfer.  To make accusations as serious as nuclear proliferation, “credible evidence must be presented,” he added.

India-Pakistan

India and Pakistan have been making conciliatory statements recently, but Khan said that a productive and meaningful dialogue that produces a lasting peace will most likely not come without outside pressure (see GSN, May 13).

“There is so much venom and so much hatred, they will have to be brought into a dialogue, and there is no hurry to do that,” Khan said.

He also questioned the idea that the two nuclear-armed states are prevented from engaging in another conventional war because of their nuclear arsenals.  India and Pakistan have fought three wars since achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.

“They think they can push the situation and they believe the other side will accept it.  In this process of brinkmanship, they may be crossing the threshold.  It’s hard to manage nukes in a crisis,” Khan said.

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