Concerns about terrorists gaining access to Pak’s nuclear weapons were raised by the AQ Khan black market and Dawood’s nexus with Dawood.

By Sanjeev SharmNew Delhi, Nov 27, : .

The nexus of Dawood Ibrahim, fugitive gangster, terrorist organizations, and the nuclear arms blackmarket run by A.

Q.Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q.Khan, was the subject of concern during the US Senate hearings in 2009.Senator John McCain was informed that terrorist organizations within Pakistan could be able obtain nuclear weapons, as everyone knows about Pakistans nuclear arsenal during the hearings on the lessons learned from the Mumbai attacks for the US.McCain, a counter-terrorism expert replied that it was a concern.We receive regular assurances from the Pakistani authorities about their nuclear weapons being under tight control, but it is a concern "When we look at Pakistans nexus between Dawood Ibrahim, an organised crime figure, and terrorist organizations, we also look at the black market that was created to support Pakistani nuclear programme through A.Q.Khan, I mean that this is a collection of connections between organised crime and government authorities and terrorist organizations that raises the spectre of large-scale financing and real concerns if these terrorist organisations move into weapons of Mass Destruction "I don’t want to exaggerate terror because I still believe terrorists get a tremendous deal out of doing low-tech tasks without trying to do more technologically challenging ones.The Mumbai attacks, as I mentioned earlier, were an example of basically small unit infantry tactics that paralysed a 20 million-person city for the better part three days.

" He said that Pakistans response to terrorist attacks was limited because the authority of the civilian elected government over the military and intelligence services of Pakistan is limited.We can continue to press them, as they should, but we must accept that this will be a long-term diplomatic struggle before we can truly enlist Pakistan in the fight against terrorism "And, by and large, the problem didn’t start with this government or the previous government.

The experts said that the National Commission on Terrorism recognized in 1999 and 2000 that Pakistan wasnt fully cooperating with terrorism.Experts said that Pakistani military and government had not cooperated with Pakistan.

It has attempted to make deals in these troubled areas and negotiate ceasefires.It hasnt succeeded.

Sometimes it has entered with military force and its own forces have not fared well.We believe we can do more to build new relationships with military assistance and long-term efforts to create new capabilities.

This is a slow-moving project that has cost billions of dollars.(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in) san/ar #Concerns #access #Paks #nuclear #Khan #black #Delhi #Mumbai.