Top Pakistan nuclear scientists in Taliban custody

[Bhaisahab]

Zee News (a big news corp in India) is reporting this in an 'exclusive.'

Top Pakistan nuclear scientists in Taliban Custody: Zee News Exclusive

New Delhi, March 07: Two top nuclear scientists of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) are currently in Taliban custody. The two were working at PAEC’s facility in North West Frontier Province. Zee News investigations reveal that the two scientists were kidnapped about six months ago. To avoid international embarrassment Pakistan Government has kept this information under wraps.

According to information available with Zee News, nuclear scientists have been kidnapped by Taliban at the behest of Al-Qaeda. Further investigations reveal that Al-Qaeda may be using the expertise of the scientists to produce nuclear bombs. The two scientists are reportedly being held somewhere in Waziristan, near Afghanistan border.

CONTINUED: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=358644&sid=WOR&ssid=

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ON EDIT: The report also mentions there have been prior instances of militants stealing uranium in Pakistan. But if I were you, I'd take Zee News 'exclusives' with more than a pinch of salt.
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[The_Warmth]

1. So get me up to date...

don't you need about a jillion other things besides scientists to produce a nuke? How can these two be of use without the right technology, unless the Taliban is working with a specific country with the technology?

[Bhaisahab]

2. My understanding of nukular tech

is sketchy at best, but maybe a dirty bomb is what they are aiming to concoct?

[TheWraith]

5. If so, then they're incredibly stupid.

Even refined uranium produces very little in terms of gamma radiation, and unrefined uranium ore even less so.

I think that this is just empty rumor from an unreliable source trying to grab attention.

[daleo]

3. That site sure has a lot of popups.

That always makes me a bit leery of a site.

What are some kidnapped scientists going to tell Al-Quada? Making a nuclear weapon is a very complex job, and it requires a lot of difficult machinery and materials. It seems like it takes the efforts of an entire nation state to accomplish.

[seriousstan]

4. Cavemen kidnapping scientists. WWGD....... What would Geico do?

[OKthatsIT]

10. Look at their clothes..new uniforms, missle launchers...they're getting funding

guess by who? US and Saudi Arabia, that's who.

[HuffleClaw]

6. shouldn't take fox news long to run with this one

propaganda or not

[harun]

13. They won't, it makes the admin look bad because the effort

has been diverted to Iraq instead of in Afghanistan.

[independentpiney]

7. They put a nuclear facility in the NWFP? WtF? n/t

[BushOut06]

8. Don't worry, I'm sure that Tancredo and Glenn Beck are all over this

Probably preparing a "scare you to death" speech as we read this.

[Mojorabbit]

9. I posted this yesteday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=362409&mesg_id=362409
I went digging in the english pakistani papers and did not come up with any more news. I found it interesting in that it was not picked up here. If I had read it in our papers I would have put it down to fear mongering. Sad state it is when I have to be suspicious of anything I read in our papers but take things more serious when read in the foreign press.

[Bhaisahab]

11. I liked the healthy skepticism in the replies to that post.

Seems like a lot of DUers do not consider this a threat, even if the report turns out to be halfway true. Nuclear know-how in ANYBODY'S hands is dangerous, but in the hands of stateless ideologues, it might just be catastrophic. Just my two paisas.

[Mojorabbit]

15. I agree

It is not like we haven't pissed of everybody and their brother all over the world. I am keeping my eye out for any more info in the foreign papers. Anything in our media I have to look at with a cynical eye.

[bobthedrummer]

12. Fwiw, an archived thread started January 15, 2007 with a BBC report

"Pakistan 'nuclear' kidnap foiled"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2689760

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. This report smells extremely fishy.

Some in India would like nothing more than to ratchet up the menace of the Pakistani threat.

Also, The US is cooperating with Pakistan, who is in turn cooperating with the Taliban to launch terror incursions into SE Iran.

I find it surprising that the Taliban would bite the hand that feeds it.

On the other hand, it would partially explain why it happened 6 months ago but is only now being reported.

[struggle4progress]

16. "According to information available with Zee News" two unnamed people might have been kidnapped

Not exactly the most persuasive or informative bit of might-be-news I've ever read

[w4rma]

17. Very very very bad. (nt)