The US has voiced concerns over reports of possible release of discredited Pakistani scientist A Q Khan, warning that any such move could enable his network to re-engage in nuclear proliferation activities.
“… the most important thing is that A Q Khan’s network is out of business. Anyone associated with this network should not be free to be able to walk the streets and engage in either continued proliferation activities or restart anything that might be there,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said.
The Bush administration is constantly in touch with Pakistani authorities over releasing the scientist who is currently under house arrest.
“Certainly, if we have any concerns that either Khan or any Pakistani citizen is engaged in proliferation activities, we will raise that forcefully and directly with the government of Pakistan,” Casey said.
“I’m not sure what… the exact status of his detention is. Here’s the bottom line. The US has confidence that Pakistan is not engaging in proliferation activities. We’ll continue to work with them as well as with other governments to make sure that they are not doing so,” the official said.