DAVOS, 25 January 2004 — President Pervez Musharraf lifted the curtain yesterday on his country’s covert nuclear weapons program, and said Europeans should be investigated along with Pakistani scientists who may have sold secrets abroad for “personal gain.”

“Covert meant scientists moved around with full autonomy in a secretive manner,” Musharraf told reporters at a breakfast meeting on the side of the World Economic Forum meeting.

He noted that Pakistan is investigating whether individuals in the government knew about the security leak. “We are carrying out an in-depth investigation and ... we will sort out everyone who is involved,” he said.

Musharraf said the covert program to develop a nuclear weapon was started about 30 years ago, after India conducted nuclear tests, and that scientists were given “freedom of action” to develop the technology.

“It could succeed only if there was total autonomy and nobody knew. That is how it continued,” he said.

“Now if there was some individual or individuals, unscrupulous, if they were for personal gain selling national assets ... it was possible because it was not open, it was not under strategic check and controls. That is why it was possible.”

He said those who might have leaked secrets were “anti-state elements” who acted against government policy.

The investigation began after Iran disclosed names of people who provided them with nuclear technology, and they included Pakistani scientists, Musharraf said.

“I accept that,” he said, adding that he would like to see European countries and scientists investigated for their involvement as well.

He said that only the European countries had the sophisticated metallurgy necessary to produce fissile materials.

“There are European countries involved in the refining and producing. It is high-class metallurgy. Where is it available? In Europe. So why is no one talking about it? I wonder what is happening to the others.”

About Pakistan he said, “Was the government involved in proliferation or was it individuals? The possibility of individuals having been involved is there.”

About the government he said, “I will be able to show definitely when the investigation is completed.”

He said that the country’s nuclear weapons were now under strict government control and that there was no possibility they could be seized by terrorists even if he was killed. Musharraf survived two assassination attempts in the past month.

“There is very strict control and no question about it falling into anyone’s hands.”

He said that he had set up a national command authority, which he chaired, to guard the technology.

Musharraf, Pakistan’s top general who seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup, told The Associated Press after the meeting, “The security of all of this is a military responsibility. As long as the military of Pakistan remains, nothing can go wrong.”

Musharraf said that he believed India’s prime minister was a “man of peace” and there were a number of solutions to the disputed territory of Kashmir.

Musharraf said “we have taken a big step forward” in setting the stage for negotiations between the two nuclear rivals.

He declined to give details about the solutions to the conflict that he had in mind, but was full of praise for the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“I find him to be a man of peace. I find him to be a very balanced leader. I give him credit for his boldness.”

He said that the two sides would have to show “flexibility” and “boldness.”

“There are a number of solutions which can come about,” he said, adding they would have to reach a compromise between the extreme positions stated previously by both sides. He said now was not the time to discuss solutions but that would come when the two sides started what he called a “composite dialogue on all issues.”

“We need to progress. That is the time to discuss solutions,” he said.