Father of Pakistan’s Nuclear Bomb Abdul Qadeer Khan dies, his notorious legacy is kept alive
Categories: DAILY NEWS
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan was a famous Pakistani nuclear scientist and metallurgical engineer who is regarded as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme. Khan gave Pakistan the gas-centrifuge enrichment technology that it used for its nuclear deterrence programme. As the head of Pakistan’s nuclear program 25, he is considered a national hero. But while he is lauded as a hero in his home country, as per the former CIA Director George Tenet, Khan is at least as dangerous as Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks on the US. According to historical records, Khan had a close and cordial relationship with General Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq and the Military of Pakistan. In particular, he maintained a close relationship with Pakistan’s Air Force. After years of globe-trotting and selling nuclear technology to rogues states, the US finally confronted with evidence of Khan’s action and he was put under house arrest in 2004. On October 10, 2021 he passed away at the age of 85. But even with Khan’s death, Pakistan’s role in providing nuclear technologies to rogue nations and dictatorial leaders continues. In a recent development, Pakistan has formed a nexus with Turkey and is fully supporting President Erdogan in his ambition to turn Turkey into the world’s next nuclear power. According to reports, there have been high-level military dialogues between Pakistan and Turkey. One of these meetings took place on December 22 last year. The Pakistani delegation was led by Defence Secretary Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, while the Turkish side had sent Deputy Chief of Turkish Army, General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu to lead their delegation. The Pakistani delegation visited top Turkish defence companies and even met with the CEO of Turkish Aerospace Limited (TAI). These indicators all point towards nuclear delivery and collaboration being the main goal of the dialogue. In a more recent meeting, Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Nadeem Raza, visited Turkey from 27th March to 2nd April this year. During his visit, Raza met with Turkey’s Chief of General Staff, General Yaşar Güler and both of them discussed collaborations on several military projects and existing geopolitical issues.