Pakistan is defending its decision to free a scientist who admitted to
selling nuclear secrets, amid criticism from the United States and
India.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry says on Saturday Abdul
Qadeer Khan is no longer a threat because his smuggling network has
been dismantled, and controls are in place to make sure there are no
more leaks (of secret information).
U.S. officials called Khan's release "unfortunate" and "regrettable,"
demanding assurances that Khan can no longer pose any danger.
India says the international community should consider declaring
Pakistan a terrorist state. A spokesman for the ruling Congress party (Manish Tewari) says
defending Khan proves Pakistan exports terrorism, and also gives rise
to concerns of countries such as the U.S. that nuclear weapons could
reach terrorists.
Khan is considered the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb but admitted
to leaking nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea in 2004.
Pakistan's High Court freed the 72-year-old Khan Friday, after five
years of house arrest. The court said Khan will still be subject to
some security measures.
Separately, India's army chief said today the terrorist infrastructure
in Pakistan is, as he put it, "existing and active." General Deepak
Kapor says the number of militant camps in Pakistan has been on the
rise.
Many Pakistanis see Khan as a hero despite worldwide condemnation after his international nuclear deals were exposed.
Khan told reporters outside his Islamabad home he will not cooperate
with foreign investigations into his nuclear proliferation network.