ISLAMABAD, May 3: The Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday shrugged off the disclosures made by the UK-based think tank, International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), in its dossier on nuclear scientist Dr. A. Q. Khan, saying there was “nothing new” that warranted a comment.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam when contacted by Dawn was nonchalant about it and merely said: “This is like many other studies in the past.”
Reiterating that Pakistan had taken a number of measures which included establishing a robust command and control structure and export controls, she underscored: “This has been acknowledged even by this latest report.”
The spokesperson rubbished the notion that Pakistan may still be dependent on illicit sources and smuggling routes to maintain its nuclear programme.
The 176-page dossier launched by the IISS in London on Wednesday is titled: “Nuclear markets: Pakistan, A. Q. Khan and the rise of proliferation networks – a net assessment.”
