This may not be about nukes at all

On the Late Edition, host Wolf Blitzer raised the same issue with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Blitzer pointed out that contrary to what Bush had said, not only did Khan go unpunished for his admitted acts of N-proliferation, but Musharraf has even rejected the IAEA’s repeated requests to question Khan in connection with Iran’s N-programme. Rice’s lame response: “When he said Khan had been brought to justice, the President meant that his network had been wrapped up. It is wrong to say Khan went unpunished… he was a national hero in Pakistan, his removal from office was a humiliation, that itself was a punishment!”

For the US, it is a grim repeat of the situation in the late ’80s. Then, the US goal was to evict Soviet forces from Afghanistan, for which Pakistan’s help was essential. The US pumped in billions of dollars in arms and aid into Pakistan, and looked the other way while Pakistan indulged in mischief in Kashmir and merrily exchanged missile and N-technology with North Korea. Today, the US needs Musharraf’s help to hunt down Al Qaeda et al. Till that objective is attained, they must wink at Pakistan’s N-proliferation activities. When cornered by evidence of Pakistani proliferation, what better defense for the US administration than the bland statement: “But the Indians did it too!” Doubtless, in due course, the next US President will speak of ‘‘working with India and Pakistan to stop them from N-proliferation’’.