US being forced to face Pak proliferation issue

The Bush administration is being forced to confront the A Q Khan nuclear proliferation issue in the final months of its term after it nearly succeeded in sweeping the scandal under the carpet because of Pakistan's perceived sensitivities that Washington felt would endanger the war on terror.

New revelations that nuclear smuggler A Q Khan was in possession of sophisticated Pakistani nuclear weapons design which he may have passed on unknown third countries or players has thrown the Washington establishment into a tizzy.

After ducking the Khan issue for years saying the proliferation network has been rolled up and buying into Pakistan's explanation that the matter is closed, an embarrassed Bush administration now finds that the genie is still outside the bottle.

Read more