WASHINGTON – The CIA continues to be very concerned about the potentialconnection between extremist groups and Pakistani nuclear scientists and isvery closely monitoring this, a top official from the spy agency has toldlawmakers.
“There was very deep concern about potential contacts, and we continue tomonitor this very closely, between extremists and Pakistani nuclearscientists,” Gina Haspel link>,US President Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA director told the members ofthe Senate Select Intelligence Committeelink> duringher confirmation hearing yesterday, Economic Times has reported.
Haspel, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first female head of theCIA. She was responding to a question from Senator John Cornynlink>.
“Without divulging classified information, can you confirm that there wereconcerns about follow-on attacks using nuclear devices, biological weapons,other weapons of mass destruction that might have killed more innocentAmericans as happened on 9/11? Was that the environment in which you andthe country were operating in at the time?” Cornyn asked.
There were very grave concerns on that front, Haspel answered.
“And indeed, al Qaida had those kinds of programmes, efforts to acquirecrude, dirty bombs, efforts to develop — they had a programme — abiological weapons programme. I remember the operative who was in charge ofthat,” Haspel said.