US American intelligence service CIA in 1975 and in 1986 has stopped Dutch authorities from arresting Pakistani nuclear spy Khan.

Dutch ex prime minister Lubbers said this in VPRO radio program Argos.

US daily New York Times already wrote on this affair last year, based on anonymous sources. Now, Lubbers confirms this.

In the 1970s, Abdul Khan stole nuclear secrets from Dutch Ultra Centrifuge, part of Urenco in Almelo.

With this, in the 1990s he built the Pakistani nuclear bomb. He also sold his knowledge to Iran, North Korea, and Libya.

Suspicion

In 1975 there already was suspicion what Khan was doing, and Dutch authorities thought about arresting him.

According to Lubbers, however, the CIA wanted Khan to continue with his activities "in order to get more information" [the CIA and Pakistani military dictators being close pals; as Lubbers said during the interview; not included on NOS TV web article].

In the 1980s, Khan had to appear in court at last, but was freed due to legal errors.

Lubbers, then prime minister, wanted the court case to continue.

However, he did not carry on, on the "advice" of security services [CIA pals].

Dutch Attorney General Donner still last year denied that there had been meddling by secret services in the Khan affair.

VPRO radio investigated the affair jointly with Japanese television.

They are making a documentary on the affair, as now it is sixty years ago that Japan was hit by two US nuclear bombs, on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Labels: Peace and war

¶ 10:50 AM