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| India-Pakistan |
| Gul praises MusharrafÂ’s nuke deal with Korea |
| 2008-07-07 |
| Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Hameed Gul has said the nuclear deal with North Korea was MusharrafÃs only commendable deed, if he was really a part of it, during his eight-year military rule. He was referring to the latest revelations made by the nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. Talking to The News on Sunday, he said Pakistan was not a signatory to any international law on the transfer and development of nuclear and missile technology, therefore, it could not be questioned or held accountable for its past deals. Gul said that as a sovereign and independent state, Pakistan had the right to have nuclear technology for its defence. He said the acquisition of missile technology was the only security option for Pakistan. “Washington did not supply us the F-16s despite receiving $678 million from Pakistan,” he said, adding, “we could not depend on such an unreliable ally or supplier.” The retired general revealed that Banazir Bhutto also did a nuclear deal with North Korea during her second term by personally carrying a CD of the centrifuge design to North Korea. “She in turn bought a number of Nodong missiles, which were later modified into the Ghauri Missile,” he said. Gul justified the deals of Bhutto and Musharraf on the pretext that Pakistan was under threat of a powerful hostile neighbour. “It attacked us in the past and we still have pending issues with it,” he said. He, however, lamented that Musharraf later showed lack of character and wronged Dr AQ Khan. “We have been following a policy of appeasement towards the US so far,” he said and suggested changing the policy for the security of Pakistan. “Our national will and our security concerns are in conflict with the US agenda for this region,” he said. Gul said Pakistan should take a hard stance as it did in 1998 when it tested its nuclear weapons against the US will. “Pakistan had developed the nuclear device in 1987, which had been kept in the closet to avoid the annoyance of the US. But when we exploded it, the US had to accept this new reality,” he said. “Unfortunately, America is dictating us by imposing its viceroy (Musharraf) over the people of Pakistan despite the clear anti Musharraf mandate in the February elections,” he said. He said that the US was blackmailing Pakistan on all issues. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #2 It'd be great to see him snatched up and put to work cleaning a reactor core with a toothbrush - in his skivvies... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2008-07-07 12:14 |
| #1 Hamid Gul should be on our hit/target list!!! |
| Posted by: Paul 2008-07-07 09:21 |