Key Takeaways
- Former CIA officer reveals US controlled Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal under Musharraf
- Saudi Arabia intervened to protect Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan from US action
- US foreign policy described as transactional and hypocritical in dealing with dictators
In a stunning revelation, former CIA officer John Kiriakou has claimed that Pakistan’s former President Pervez Musharraf handed over control of the country’s nuclear arsenal to the United States in exchange for massive aid packages.
The 15-year CIA veteran, who served as chief of counterterrorism operations in Pakistan, stated that Washington “essentially purchased” Musharraf through millions in military and economic assistance, granting the US unprecedented access to Pakistan’s security operations.
Musharraf’s Nuclear Compromise
Kiriakou revealed in an ANI interview that under Musharraf’s regime, the United States enjoyed near-unchecked control over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. “We gave millions and millions of dollars in aid—military and economic—and Musharraf let us do whatever we wanted,” the former intelligence officer stated.
However, Kiriakou exposed Musharraf’s double game—publicly aligning with US counterterrorism efforts while secretly allowing Pakistan’s military and extremist elements to continue operations against India. “The Pakistani military didn’t care about Al-Qaeda; they cared about India,” he quoted.
Saudi Protection of AQ Khan
In another bombshell disclosure, Kiriakou revealed that Saudi Arabia directly intervened to shield Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan from potential US action. “The Saudis came to us and said, ‘Please leave him alone. We like AQ Khan. We’re working with him,'” Kiriakou recalled.
This Saudi intervention led the White House to instruct both the CIA and International Atomic Energy Agency to stand down on Khan. Kiriakou suggested this protection might relate to Saudi Arabia’s own nuclear ambitions, particularly given the recent Saudi-Pakistan defense pact where Riyadh might be “calling in its investment.”
US Foreign Policy Hypocrisy
Kiriakou strongly criticized what he called America’s selective morality in foreign policy, accusing Washington of comfortably working with dictators when it serves US interests. “We like to pretend we’re a beacon of democracy and human rights. But it’s just not true—we do what benefits us that day,” he stated.
The former CIA officer described the US-Saudi relationship as purely transactional: “Our foreign policy in Saudi Arabia is as simple as this—we buy their oil and they buy our weapons.”
Global Power Shift
Kiriakou concluded by noting significant changes in global power dynamics, with Saudi Arabia, China, and India redefining their strategic positions. “They’re hedging their bets, improving relations with China and India. We’re witnessing a transformation in how the world operates,” he observed.
The revelations paint a picture of complex nuclear diplomacy and shifting alliances in South Asia and the Middle East, with significant implications for regional security and global power balances.
