AQ Khan rules out Pak's nuke programme rollback

Islamabad, Apr 9(ANI): Rogue nuclear scientist and architect of Pakistan's nuclear programme Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has ruled out the possibility of any rollback of the country's nuclear programme.

In response to allegations levelled against him for selling off the nuclear technology to Iran, Dr. Khan said that he could not think of even sharing an iota of information of the country's nuclear programme with anyone, The Nation reports.

On being asked why he had taken the blame of selling off the nuclear technology to Iran, he said that the US could have placed Pakistan under Security Council sanctions due to faulty policies of Musharraf's regime, so he took the blame on himself to secure the country's nuclear programme.

He stressed that Pakistan had not given any nuclear technology to Iran and added the only help they had extended to the country was providing them with information to get the relevant material from the international market.

Recalling his stay in Europe for 15 long years before coming back to Pakistan to launch the country's nuclear programme, he said that he went abroad with a mission of transforming Pakistan into a nuclear power.

Dr. Khan also lauded the contributions of late General Zialul Haq who had played a key role in the success of the country's nuclear programme.

He said that Western nations, including the US did not want to see any nuclear- armed Muslim state, and were therefore trying to coerce Iran into abandoning its nuclear programme.

Khan said that only honest and capable leadership could steer the country out of the prevailing crisis and put the country back on the road of progress and prosperity. (ANI)