Hero or dangerous spy? The story behind the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb

November 09, 2021

Hero or Dangerous Spy? The Story Behind the Father of Pakistan's Nuclear Bomb | GZERO World

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan recently died as a national hero in Pakistan for helping his country develop its nuclear bomb in 1998 to rival India's nukes. GZERO World takes a look at A.Q. Khan, whom former CIA boss George Tenet once said was as threatening as Osama bin Laden, stole nuclear secrets from a Dutch uranium enrichment company to build centrifuges for Pakistan's atomic weapon. But he didn't stop there: in 2004 A.Q. Kahn was placed under the Pakistani version of house arrest for sharing his nuclear recipes with Iran, Libya, and North Korea. He was finally pardoned five years later, and remains as beloved by his countrymen as he is regarded elsewhere as one of the most dangerous men in history.

Watch the episode: Nuclear weapons: more dangerous than ever?

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French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the members of the media, after arriving by plane to attend the Gaza Peace Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025.

Yoan Valat/Pool via REUTERS

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Palestinian children look at rubble following Israeli forces' withdrawal from the area, after Israel and Hamas agreed on the Gaza ceasefire, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 10, 2025.

REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

Israel approved the Gaza ceasefire deal on Friday morning, bringing the ceasefire officially into effect. The Israeli military must withdraw its forces to an agreed perimeter inside Gaza within 24 hours, and Hamas has 72 hours to return the hostages.

Hero or dangerous spy? The story behind the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb

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Hero or dangerous spy? The story behind the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb

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A new set of forces is distorting the economy's response mechanisms and muting the traditional cycle. Listen to Strategic Alternatives, the RBC Capital Markets podcast, to hear Chief Economist Frances Donald break down what it means for companies, investors, and policymakers.

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Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

In this week's Quick Take, Ian Bremmer talks about the landmark moment in the Middle East: All 20 remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been released, and a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been signed—brokered by President Trump.

Israel approved the Gaza ceasefire deal on Friday morning, bringing the ceasefire officially into effect. The Israeli military must withdraw its forces to an agreed perimeter inside Gaza within 24 hours, and Hamas has 72 hours to return the hostages.

We’re living in a time of record-high conflict, a level of violence not seen since World War II. The past four years have been marred by deadly battles in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and beyond, with approximately 14% of the planet’s population now impacted by war.

Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.