New York Times retter i en lang og detaljert artikkel søkelys på Pakistan som selve edderkoppen i et hemmelig nettverk for hemmelig spredning av kjernefysisk teknologi. Pakistans strategiske betydning, og det faktum at alternativet til Pervez Musharafs regime synes å være verre, gjør at Bushs administrasjon likevel ikke legger større press på Pakistan som burde plasseres blant landene kalt «ondskapens akse».

….Evidence uncovered in recent months shows that around 1987 Pakistan struck a deal with Iran, which had tried unsuccessfully to master enrichment technology on its own during its war with Iraq. The outlines of the deal — pieced together from limited inspections and documents turned over to the I.A.E.A. in October — show that a centrifuge of Pakistani design finally solved Iran’s technological problems. That deal was «a tremendous boost,» Mr. Albright and his colleague, Corey Hinderstein, said in a draft report on the Iranian program. «The possession of detailed designs could allow Iran to skip many difficult research steps,» they added.

…If the Iranians were the turtle, the North Koreans proved the hare. Around 1997, a decade after the Pakistani deal with Iran, Dr. Khan made inroads with the government of Kim Jong Il, as it sought a way to make nuclear fuel away from the Yongbyon plant and the prying eyes of American satellites. Dr. Khan began traveling to North Korea, visiting 13 times, American intelligence officials said.
During those visits, North Korea offered to exchange centrifuge technology for North Korean missile technology, enabling Pakistan to extend the reach of its nuclear weapons across India.

…For now the world is left watching a terrifying race — one that pits scientists, middlemen and extremists against Western powers trying to intercept, shipload by shipload, the technology as it spreads through the clandestine network. Mr. Bush re2_kommentars wary of cracking down on a fragile Pakistan, for fear pressure could tip the situation toward the radicals.