US warns Pak against releasing Khan

US officials have privately warned Pakistan against releasing discredited scientist A Q Khan after investigations revealed that he might still be in possession of the design of a nuclear bomb, which is “easier to hide” and could become a “terrorist issue” in future.

The discovery, about the presence of blueprint of the sophisticated and compact nuclear weapon in Khan’s computers network spread over Switzerland, Dubai, Malaysia and Thailand by US and IAEA investigators, has raised the possibility of his still having sensitive material.

The findings have given new grounds to the US officials to issue fresh warnings to the Pakistani authorities, who consider Khan’s chapter as closed, against releasing him. He is currently under house arrest in Pakistan.

“We’ve been very direct with them that releasing Khan could cause a world of trouble,” a senior US administration official said on Monday.