'Saudi secretly working with Pak (nuke) experts': German magazine

[Bhaisahab]

'Saudi secretly working with Pak experts'

AGENCIES
Posted online: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 1557 hours IST

BERLIN, MARCH 29 : Saudi Arabia is working secretly on a nuclear programme, with help from Pakistani experts, the German magazine Cicero reports in its latest edition, citing western security sources.

It says that during the Haj pilgrimages to Mecca in 2003 through 2005, Pakistani scientists posed as pilgrims to come to Saudi Arabia in aircraft laid on by the oil-rich kingdom

Between October 2004 and January 2005, some of them took the opportunity to "disappear" from their hotel rooms, sometimes for up to three weeks, it quoted German security expert Udo Ulfkotte as saying.

According to western security services, the magazine added, Saudi scientists have been working since the mid-1990s in Pakistan, a nuclear power since 1998 thanks to the work of the now-disgraced Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan.

CONTINUED AT: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=65139

[Ian David]

1. Well, with Valerie Plame out of the way, who's going to stop them?

[leveymg]

2. Not surprising. SA paid the bulk of the cost of the Pakistani A-program

The only question is, why in the world would the Saudis need to develop an extensive indigenous nuclear program when all they have to do is buy a pre-made bomb or components from Pakistan?

ExpressIndia has carried a lot of similar stories lately about the Pakistani nuclear program and a cover-up of its involvement in 9/11. May all be true. BUT - given the ongoing tensions with India, take this with a pillar of salt.

[madmark]

4. exactly

[Bhaisahab]

9. The Indian Express

You're right about the need to be wary about anything Indian newspapers publish about Pakistan. Had this report been filed by the Indian Express, I would not have posted it here. But this is a German magazine they are quoting, so I thought the propaganda quotient would probably be low.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. Not a surprise to me at all.

[NorthernSun]

5. It's about oil

Bush screwed up raid on Iraqi oil so he needs to invade Iran and Saudi Arabia. Solar and windmills just aren't profitable enough for Halliburton.

[lovuian]

6. Saudis want nukes and bush isn't going to stop them

if anything help them!!!

[Roland99]

7. And Al Qaeda has an active presence in Saudi Arabia.

WHEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

[HuffleClaw]

8. hmmmmmmm

and i suppose next bush will FREAK about this, DEMANDING the 'international community' DO something about this move, that is 'DESTABILISING' the region? i'm not gonna hold my breath.

[Bhaisahab]

10. Update: Pakistan's reponse

No N-help to S. Arabia, says Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March 29: The government on Wednesday rejected as ‘fabricated’ a German magazine report that said Saudi Arabia was working secretly on a nuclear programme with help from Pakistani experts.

“It is a fabricated story and motivated by vicious intentions,” Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

SNIP

Dismissing the report, the foreign office spokeswoman said: “Pakistan has a unilateral commitment to non-proliferation.”

“As a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan has taken all measures to strengthen its export control,” she added.—AFP

Complete story: http://www.dawn.com/2006/03/30/top18.htm

[Ouabache]

11. well of course, says the dog who runs with the wolves

hunt with the dogs - run with the wolves
Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia....
some nations have it both ways/