03-15-2005, 09:15 PM
<b>Pakistan reviving nuclear black market: Experts</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistan has developed new illicit channels to upgrade its nuclear weapons programme, despite efforts by the UN atomic watchdog to shut down all illegal procurement avenues, diplomats and nuclear experts said.
Western diplomats familiar with an investigation of the nuclear black market by the UN's Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said this news was disturbing.
While Pakistan appeared to be shopping for its own needs, the existence of some nuclear black market channels meant there were still ways for rogue states or terrorist groups to acquire technology that could be used in atomic weapons, they said.
"General procurement efforts (by Pakistan) are going on. It is a determined effort," a diplomat from a member of the 44-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"This was discussed at an NSG meeting in Vienna last week," he said, adding that those involved in the discussion agreed to try to keep the issue secret to avoid upsetting Pakistan.
Nuclear experts said these channels involved new middlemen who had not played a role in earlier deals which came to light last year.
<b>"These are not the same people. They're new, which is worrying," said one Western diplomat.</b>
Pakistan is subject to sanctions against its atomic arms programme as it has not signed the 1968 global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
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Western diplomats familiar with an investigation of the nuclear black market by the UN's Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said this news was disturbing.
While Pakistan appeared to be shopping for its own needs, the existence of some nuclear black market channels meant there were still ways for rogue states or terrorist groups to acquire technology that could be used in atomic weapons, they said.
"General procurement efforts (by Pakistan) are going on. It is a determined effort," a diplomat from a member of the 44-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"This was discussed at an NSG meeting in Vienna last week," he said, adding that those involved in the discussion agreed to try to keep the issue secret to avoid upsetting Pakistan.
Nuclear experts said these channels involved new middlemen who had not played a role in earlier deals which came to light last year.
<b>"These are not the same people. They're new, which is worrying," said one Western diplomat.</b>
Pakistan is subject to sanctions against its atomic arms programme as it has not signed the 1968 global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
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