China Sent Enriched Uranium to Pakistan, Can it Now Teach Pakistan How to Read and Write? 11/13/2009
According to corroborated reports from A.Q. Khan's personal accounts, China sent weapons-grade uranium to Pakistan in 1982.
Horrified by India's test of a nuclear bomb in 1974, Mao Zedong and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (Benazir's father) met in 1976 to discuss cooperation in nuclear arms. A.Q. Khan, who gained access to European methods for nuclear enrichment while working at a Dutch centrifuge manufacturer, passed expertise to China, which had nuclear bombs but was frustrated by its slow pace of enrichment.
Pakistan in return received warhead designs, 15 tons of uranium hexaflouride (feeder for centrifuges) and enough weapons-grade uranium for 2 atom bombs.
As Khan boasted in a report for Pakistani intelligence:
"The speed of our work and our achievements surprised our worst enemies and adversaries and the West stood helplessly by to see a Third World nation, unable even to produce bicycle chains or sewing needles, mastering the most advanced nuclear technology in the shortest possible span of time..."
Yes, by spying on the Dutch and capitalizing on Chinese fears of India. But what does it mean to be a country that can produce nuclear weapons, but can't teach half of its population how to read and write? Would it not be better to surprise the world by creating a modern, stable society? Despite Pakistan's enormous pride for its nuclear capability, I don't think that many Third World countries envy Pakistan today.
Horrified by India's test of a nuclear bomb in 1974, Mao Zedong and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (Benazir's father) met in 1976 to discuss cooperation in nuclear arms. A.Q. Khan, who gained access to European methods for nuclear enrichment while working at a Dutch centrifuge manufacturer, passed expertise to China, which had nuclear bombs but was frustrated by its slow pace of enrichment.
Pakistan in return received warhead designs, 15 tons of uranium hexaflouride (feeder for centrifuges) and enough weapons-grade uranium for 2 atom bombs.
As Khan boasted in a report for Pakistani intelligence:
"The speed of our work and our achievements surprised our worst enemies and adversaries and the West stood helplessly by to see a Third World nation, unable even to produce bicycle chains or sewing needles, mastering the most advanced nuclear technology in the shortest possible span of time..."
Yes, by spying on the Dutch and capitalizing on Chinese fears of India. But what does it mean to be a country that can produce nuclear weapons, but can't teach half of its population how to read and write? Would it not be better to surprise the world by creating a modern, stable society? Despite Pakistan's enormous pride for its nuclear capability, I don't think that many Third World countries envy Pakistan today.
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