From Islamabad To Iran & Libya: Who Leaked Pakistan’s Atomic Blueprint And How | World News

Washington/Islamabad: In a startling revelation, former chief of operations for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) James Loller has revealed how Pakistan’s nuclear program was compromised by leaks that sent shockwaves through the global intelligence community. Pakistan’s leading nuclear scientist Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was secretly selling sensitive nuclear technology and classified information to other countries.

Loller, who is known for exposing Khan’s international nuclear smuggling network, said in an interview to ANI that CIA Director George Tenet personally briefed Musharraf about Khan’s activities and provided conclusive evidence.

Intelligence showed that he supplied sensitive nuclear technology to countries including Libya and posed a serious threat to global security.

After receiving this information, then-President Musharraf reportedly reacted angrily. “He exploded and cursed at Khan. He said, ‘I’m going to kill him.’ Soon after, Khan was placed under house arrest in his own home for several years,” Loller recalled.

Khan’s name has been associated with many controversies over the years, including the spread of nuclear technology and the operation of illegal networks. He was detained in 2004. He later acknowledged his role in the network, but also leveled accusations against both Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

According to Loller, Tenet had warned Musharraf that Khan had betrayed Pakistan’s interests. After prolonged surveillance, the CIA discovered that Khan was sending important nuclear information abroad while at the same time turning Pakistan into a nuclear-powered state.

Loller explained that this is why he called Khan the “Merchant of Death”.

The network under Khan’s control eventually reached Iran’s nuclear program. Evidence emerged that Tehran was using the P1 and P2 centrifuge designs smuggled by Khan.

His network also delivered ballistic missile data and plans for the Chinese atomic bomb. Loller warned that the Middle East could face a devastating “nuclear epidemic” if Iran became fully nuclear-powered.

The revelation provides a rare insider’s look at the global nuclear proliferation network and highlights the complex and often dangerous web of espionage, secrecy and political maneuvering surrounding Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions.