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Russia concerned that Pak may sell nukes to Arab friends

Pakistan's empty coffers may compel it to sell its nuclear weapons and technology to its friends in the Arab world, Radio Moscow said.

The apprehension emanates from the recent visit of the Saudi defence delegation to the highly sensitive nuclear installation at Kahuta in north-west Pakistan, restricted even to erstwhile Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the radio added.

The radio reminded the hailing of the Pak N-bomb by its admirers in the Arab world, as ''a factor in strengthening Islamic power.''

Though Pakistani nuclear weapons technology is a product of smuggled inputs from across the world and hence of not very high standard, it is sufficiently tempting for other countries to buy them and thereby consider themselves nuclear powers.

The Russian concern arises from Pakistan's patronage of the Taliban regime and Osama Bin Laden's mercenaries in neighbouring Afghanistan who have been fanning terrorism and violence in Chechnia and other Muslim majority areas close to its territory.

UNI

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