New Delhi: In a startling revelation, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer John Kiriakou has claimed that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was effectively under American control during the tenure of former President General Pervez Musharraf.
Speaking in an interview with news agency ANI, Kiriakou disclosed that Musharraf handed over the keys to these weapons to the US, fearing they might fall into terrorist hands.
Serving in Pakistan in 2002, Kiriakou recounted receiving informal information that the Pentagon controlled Islamabad’s atomic capabilities. Washington provided millions of dollars to Pakistan in exchange, cultivating a close relationship with the military dictator. “America prefers dealing with dictators because there’s no need to worry about public opinion or media scrutiny,” he remarked, adding that the US “bought” Musharraf’s cooperation.
The ex-spy also touched upon the tense aftermath of major terror attacks on India. The US anticipated retaliatory strikes from New Delhi following the 2001 Parliament assault and the 2008 Mumbai carnage, which claimed over 160 lives. However, India’s policy of “strategic restraint”— as dubbed by the CIA – averted potential escalation. “We expected India to hit back, but they didn’t, and that’s why the world escaped a nuclear catastrophe,” Kiriakou said. He noted that Pakistan’s army prioritised threats from India over Al-Qaeda, compelling Musharraf to maintain a dual policy — feigning anti-terror collaboration with the US while sustaining covert operations against its neighbour.
This disclosure underscores the fragile geopolitics of South Asia, where nuclear shadows loomed large amid cross-border tensions. Kiriakou’s insights highlight how US interventions shaped regional dynamics, even as India opted for maturity in foreign policy.