New Delhi: Pakistan, having a dubious record of nuclear proliferation, is once again under a scanner as a consignment of Uranium sent from the country to the United Kingdom has been detected at the London Airport.
The package of the highly dangerous radioactive material, sent by a passenger flight, was detected in a consignment of scrap metal during routine checking at the Heathrow Airport on December 29, according to Sky News report.
A multi-agency probe has been launched in the UK, with investigators trying to find out whether there is a terror angle involved.
The package had arrived on a passenger flight from Oman after originating in Pakistan, the report said, quoting unidentified sources.
It said the quantity was small but did not specify.
The report said the London Police is working with “partner agencies” to investigate the incident and ensure there is no risk to the public.
No arrests have been made so far.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay told Sky News: “Clearly there is an investigation underway, and it is right that it looks at all the issues, and I’m sure it will report in due course.”
Pakistan has had a dubious record as far as nuclear proliferation is concerned.
In fact, the so-called late ‘Father of Pakistan’s Nuclear programme’ Abdul Qadeer Khan, aka A Q Khan, was notorious for sharing atomic materials and technology with countries like Iran, North Korea and Libya.
The Physicist, who started Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in 1976 with the objective of developing uranium-enrichment capabilities after quitting Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), started indulging in nuclear proliferation in 1980s.
He floated front companies which were used for covert transfer of atomic materials like centrifuges and designs and his activities came to be known as ‘Khan Network’.
As the lid on his network blew and global pressure grew on Pakistan over the proliferation activities, Khan was arrested in January 2004.
About a month later, he acknowledged, in a televised address, that he indulged in nuclear proliferation.
However, soon after the then Pakistan’s military President General Pervez Musharraf pardoned Khan, who is treated as a national hero in the country.
