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Secrets, What Secrets? Terrorists Might Exploit Pakistan’s Cavalier Attitude

by David Albright

December 1, 2001

“Secrets, What Secrets? Terrorists Might Exploit Pakistan’s Cavalier Attitude Toward Nuclear Information” by David Albright (published by Scientific American).

This brief article discusses how the historical development of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, which has relied extensively upon illict procurement and deliberate deception, has heightened the risk that sensitive nuclear technology, equipment, or materials could leak out to other nations or terrorist groups. In the organizational culture of Pakistan’s nuclear program, disaffected individuals could find plenty of justifications and opportunities to transfer classified information or sensitive items. Recent revelations concerning connections between senior Pakistani nuclear scientists and the Taliban reinforce the risk that Pakistan does not have adequate controls over its sensitive nuclear information. Article accessible for a fee from the Scientific American Digital Archives.