Washington: Top Pakistani nuclear scientists A Q Khan and Mohammed Farooq acted directly and through black market to supply sensitive technology to Iran and Libya, senior intelligence officials were today (Jan 28, 2004) quoted as saying.

Pakistani investigators have concluded that Khan, father of the country's atomic bomb, and Farooq acted directly and through a network of middlemen from South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka and elsewhere operating a black market, to supply nuclear weapons technology to Iran and Libya, 'The Washington Post' quoted three senior Pakistani intelligence officials, who wished to remain anonymous, as saying.

The help provided by Khan and Farooq to Libya and Iran included blueprints for equipment used to enrich uranium, the Pakistani intelligence officials told the 'Post'.

In return for the Pakistani scientists' assistance, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Iran channelled millions of Dollars to foreign bank accounts allegedly controlled by the two men, one of whom, Khan, amassed large real estate holdings in Pakistan and Dubai, the officials said.

Khan and Farooq were long time colleagues at Pakistan's top Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).

The officials said the findings arose from an investigation being concluded by Pakistan's ISI. The probe, which is nearing completion, said the officials, began after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) presented Pakistani officials late last year with evidence that Pakistani technology appeared to have played a role in the clandestine nuclear weapons programmes of both Iran and Libya.