Pakistan’s nuclear procurement was exposed as early as 1987 with the arrest of a Pak national, resulting in sharp divisions in the US government, but then Reagan Administration decided to ignore it in lieu of the Islamabad’s contribution in Afghanistan against the Russians, the latest set of declassified documents revealed.
The NSA released a set of declassified documents Friday related to the arrest of Arshad Pervez in July 1987 on charges of illegal nuclear procurement, which among others reflects the divisions within the then Ronald Reagan administration.
“The Pervez case demonstrates how US government agencies, including the Customs Bureau and ACDA, sought to monitor and disrupt Pakistan’s nuclear procurement activities. For its part, the Reagan White House used loopholes in US non-proliferation laws to avoid the enforcement of sanctions against Pakistan,” the National Security Archive (NSA) said.
The documents revealed a record of meetings on 5 August 1987 between the then Pakistani ruler General Ziaul Haq and the US Under Secretary Armacost.
Seeing a “conspiracy” to harm US-Pakistan relations, Armacost observed that Washington could not simply “wink” at Pakistani procurement operations.
He later said that US government “information” indicated that “enrichment levels above 90 per cent have been achieved at Kahuta”, the site of a secret gas centrifuge facility.
This meant that Pakistan was producing weapons-grade material in violation of an earlier commitment to a five per cent ceiling, the NSA said.
They supplied Pervez with nuclear “shopping lists” that showed that his “activities were part of a larger government-supported plan”.
Pervez, who had tried to bribe a Customs official to get an export licence, sought to purchase high strength maraging steel, uniquely suited for gas centrifuge enrichment technology, and quantities of beryllium for his country’s covert nuclear program, NSA said.
Adelman wanted President Reagan to invoke the Solarz amendment, which required an aid cut-off in the event that governments receiving US aid or their agents illegally tried to procure material that could be used for a nuclear weapons program, NSA said.
“Reagan, however, refused to invoke the Solarz amendment. Although Pervez would be found guilty, the White House kept aid flowing to Islamabad for reasons of “national security,” it said.
NSA said for the Reagan administration, aiding the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan trumped non-proliferation policy interests.
The high priority given to a close US-Pakistan relationship may have encouraged State Department officials to warn the Pakistanis of the imminent arrest of their agents, it said, adding that a key figure in the AQ Khan nuclear procurement network, Inamul Haq evaded arrest by slipping out of the United States at the last minute.
“A few weeks later, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Michael Armacost explained to Pakistani dictator General Ziaul Haq that state had unsuccessfully tried to get information about the Customs Bureau’s investigation of Pervez, but we did alert the GOP [Government of Pakistan] through letters, Ambassador Hinton, and our talks with the Foreign Minister that there was an issue here that needed to be addressed urgently,” it said.
“I understand the idea of warning, Zia replied,” the NSA said.
There is no doubt that US played a vital role in former USSR defeat in Afghanistan. Creation of Taliban is one of the reason of Soviet Defeat. But in 1974 India tested its 1st nuclear device. This event created serious threat for the survival of Pakistan. In response to this very threat Pakistan made its 1st nuclear device. It was not the result of any foreign assistance rather it was the result of strong commitment and handwork of Pakistani Scientists.
This is absolutely a senseless debate talk over that US overlooks Pakistan nuclear program. In 1987, actually it was US which really in need of Pakistan for Afghanistan. US gives highest priority to its own interests nothing else. Does it make any effect on US if Pakistan goes for nuclear? Rather on the other hand, US gives full nuclear cooperation to India even its not being the member of NPT. NSA revelations are not worth enough to be trusted as its own people whistles around the whole globe of US secrets.
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