U.S.A. - Nonproliferation
Dr. Robert Einhorn on ‘Pakistan and Proliferation’ at Johns Hopkins U.
By Vasantha Arora

Washington - The Bush administration, despite its “public silence” on the A.Q. Khan’s proliferation black market, should be demanding in private that the Pakistan government should put in place a rigorous controls regime over nuke technology proliferation and nuke-related exports, says Dr. Robert Einhorn, an expert on nuclear proliferation and security issues.

Einhorn, who is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, listed several steps which Pakistan should undertake to prevent others taking a cue from Khan’s smuggling ring.

He said the U.S. should vigorously engage Pakistan in nuclear nonproliferation efforts and ensure that it is separated from the issue of Kashmir. “After all, fighting proliferation is also as important as fighting terrorism,” he added.

The nuclear expert was addressing a seminar on Feb. 27 at the South Asia International Studies Center of the Johns Hopkins University here on ‘Pakistan and Proliferation.’

First of all, Pakistan should evolve special restrictions on nuclear, missile technology labs, and scientists, especially on those who travel abroad.

They should sign agreements with the government not to leak nuclear secrets and penalties should be imposed on those who try to indulge in unauthorized nuke dealings, he said.

Einhorn said Pakistan should also turn over complete details about Khan’s activities so that the U.S. could learn about how his activities went undetected for so long. He, however. did not believe that Khan acted alone. From all sources of information the Pakistan military strictly guards its nuke secrets. Hence Khan would not have acted alone, despite his public posture, Einhorn said.

The security of Pakistan’s nuke assets is also of utmost importance. It has to be protected against sabotage, seizure and theft both inside and outside the country. The recent assassination attempts against President Pervez Musharraf is said to have been the work of a potential insider. These threats are not just to Musharraf but to the nuclear assets as well, he said.

The U.S. should also insist that Pakistan does not resume nuclear testing and this has to be pursued with India also, Einhorn said, adding that both the nations should be asked to exercise restraint in making long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear heads.

Lastly, he said, the U.S. has to ensure that Pakistan and India adhere to serious nuclear risk reduction measures in order to ensure peace in the region.

Einhorn said the U.S. should stay engaged with Pakistan on all proliferation matters and should ensure that it is not linked to the issue of Kashmir.

During his 29-year career with the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Einhorn served as Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation during the Clinton administration (1999 to August 2001) and in that capacity, met frequently with senior Pakistani officials on proliferation and related security issues in the period following the nuclear tests of May 1998.