Declassified CIA Files Reveal The Depth Of China-Pakistan Nuclear Cooperation

The recently declassified CIA files have highlighted how Beijing was prepared to risk its own nuclear cooperation with US to boost the nuclear ambitions of 'all weather friend' Pakistan. The files noted that China did not ask Pakistan to open its nuclear installations to IAEA inspections, after inking a nuclear agreement with the latter. The files also reveal the fact that China had wanted to develop a nuclear export market in Pakistan.

It became startlingly clear to the US by 1983-84 that the China-Pakistan nuclear cooperation went much deeper. In February 1983, a US congressional committee was notified by the CIA that China and Pakistan were discussing the matter of nuclear weapons manufacture. CIA also stated they knew China had handed over the design of a nuclear bomb tested by China in Lop Nor, during which, a "senior Pakistani official" was present. The US suspected China had handed over the design of the bomb and required materials to Pakistan.