WASHINGTON: India is one of the nine “sensitive” countries which obtained US government technology and computer codes useful for developing atomic weapons, despite laws limiting the release of such data, says an official report.
The report of the General Accounting Office (GAO) watchdog of the Congress said the leaks were a result of conflicting laws, erratic enforcement and some confusion.
“Sensitive countries have obtained information dealing with detonators, explosives and firing sets that could assist or enhance nuclear weapons development, the study said.
“Sensitive” countries were defined as Communist ruled or those suspected of having clandestine nuclear weapons programmes.
Of these, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, India, Argentina, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Bulgaria and China were named as buying sensitive nuclear related data from the US energy department through routine orders or subscriptions along with nine other countries including major allies,
The study was sent to the Congress in June and under GAO regulations made public 30 dayslater.
Energy department spokeswoman, Ms. Janie Shaheen said the department received the report on July 27 and planned no comment during the 60 days allowed for reviewing it, Doe Weapons Laboratories “faces a dilemma” the GAO said, because under different laws it is expected both to control and disseminate non classified nuclear information.
Doe Weapons Laborites produced 39,000 research reports in 198687 of which more than 60 percent were available by sale or subscription, the GAO said.
It found that 68 percent of 30 separate nuclear related studies it traced went to overseas recipients and that Iraq, Israel and Pakistan requested six copies each while the largest total number of copies, 71, went to China India obtained 12.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 8, 1989
