Bush, Putin Feared Pakistan's Nuclear Risks: Declassified Transcripts Reveal

• Declassified transcripts reveal Bush and Putin's deep concerns over Pakistan's nuclear proliferation.
• Putin, in 2001, called Pakistan "just a junta with nuclear weapons," questioning Western inaction.
• Both leaders privately viewed Pervez Musharraf's regime as a non-proliferation liability despite public partnership.
• Concerns included Islamabad's stability, control of atomic assets, and transfers to Iran and North Korea.
• Discovery of Pakistani-origin uranium in Iranian centrifuges made both leaders "nervous."

Why It Matters: Transcripts confirm global leaders' long-standing fears about Pakistan's nuclear security.