Hero or dangerous spy? The story behind the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb

Hero or Dangerous Spy? The Story Behind the Father of Pakistan's Nuclear Bomb | GZERO World

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan recently died as a national hero in Pakistan for helping his country develop its nuclear bomb in 1998 to rival India's nukes. GZERO World takes a look at A.Q. Khan, whom former CIA boss George Tenet once said was as threatening as Osama bin Laden, stole nuclear secrets from a Dutch uranium enrichment company to build centrifuges for Pakistan's atomic weapon. But he didn't stop there: in 2004 A.Q. Kahn was placed under the Pakistani version of house arrest for sharing his nuclear recipes with Iran, Libya, and North Korea. He was finally pardoned five years later, and remains as beloved by his countrymen as he is regarded elsewhere as one of the most dangerous men in history.

Watch the episode: Nuclear weapons: more dangerous than ever?

More from GZERO Media

A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) on the outskirts of Myawaddy, the Thailand-Myanmar border town under the control of a coalition of rebel forces led by the Karen National Union, in Myanmar, April 15, 2024.
REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

For the first time in 30 years, the Karen National Union is back in the eastern town of Manerplaw.

Reuters

US President-elect Donald Trump made it official: he thinks Canada becoming the 51st state is a “great idea”. Ina post Thursday morning on Truth Social, Trump repeated his claim that the US subsidizes Canada by “over $100,000,000 a year” and mused that “Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection.”

US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks with GZERO founder and president Ian Bremmer at 92Y in New York City, on December 17, 2024.
Dan Martland/GZERO Media

Joe Biden's top foreign policy adviser shares his views on the transition to Trump, the risks in Syria, the choices for China, the false narrative about Russia, and what keeps him up at night as he prepares to leave office.