Global Security Newswire

The United States yesterday indicated it remains wary of potential threats posed by former members of the proliferation ring once run by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Indo-Asian News Service reported (see GSN, July 29).

"Obviously, the A.Q. Khan network has -- or is responsible for some of the most serious cases of proliferation in recent decades," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said, addressing a Washington Times report on the smugglers published last week. A number of countries have attempted to recruit one-time affiliates of the smuggling network, which provided key nuclear-weapon equipment and expertise to Iran, Libya and North Korea, according to the article.

"We have worked intensively with Pakistan and other countries to shut down that network," Crowley said. "And while A.Q. Khan himself is out of business, according to the government of Pakistan, we watch his network very closely for signs that others within his realm are still in business."

"This is a part of our broad international effort to try to stem sources of proliferation around the world. So it is an area of ongoing concern," he added (Indo-Asian News Service/New Kerala, Aug. 4).