Putin, Bush Feared 'Junta with Nukes' Pakistan, Declassified Docs Reveal

• Declassified documents reveal George W Bush and Vladimir Putin's private concerns about Pakistan's nuclear program.
• In 2001, Putin called Pakistan a 'junta with nuclear weapons,' expressing worry about its non-democratic nature.
• Both leaders feared Pakistan's potential role in nuclear proliferation, specifically mentioning AQ Khan's network and transfers to Iran and North Korea.
• Bush confronted Pervez Musharraf about AQ Khan, while Putin noted Pakistani-origin uranium in Iranian centrifuges.
• The documents validate India's long-standing warnings about Pakistan's nuclear risks, which the US publicly downplayed for strategic reasons.

Why It Matters: Declassified talks reveal Bush, Putin's deep fears over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and proliferation risks.