Osama Bin Laden, Nukes, Djinns: Pak Army Spokesperson's Family Ties
New Delhi:
There's one common denominator that brings terrorist Osama Bin Laden, nuclear weapons and djinns to the same room -- Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Tensions between India and Pakistan have been escalating in recent weeks, forcing Lt General Chaudhry to make more media appearances than he is used to. That has put the spotlight on his family.
Lt General Chaudhry is the son of Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, a nuclear engineer once honoured by the Pakistani state, and later sanctioned by the United Nations for his alleged contacts with terrorist organisations, including al-Qaeda.
During his decades-long tenure with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Mahmood played a key role in the development of Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure, contributing to the construction of uranium enrichment plants and the design of reactors necessary for Pakistan's transition from uranium to plutonium-based weapons capability. These facilities form the backbone of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
But it is Mahmood's post-retirement affiliations and ideological inclinations that have raised the most concerns among Western intelligence agencies.
In the early 2000s, Mahmood co-founded Ummah Tameer-e-Nau (UTN), which claimed to be an NGO operating in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. UTN's activities included building schools and infrastructure in Kandahar. US and Pakistani intelligence later discovered that the organisation served as a cover for deeper engagements with terror networks.
According to the United Nations, Mahmood and his colleague Chaudhri Abdul Majeed met Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in August 2001, weeks before the 9/11 attacks. While no conclusive evidence emerged to suggest that nuclear weapons technology had been transferred, the meetings triggered alarm in Washington and led to Mahmood's arrest and interrogation by Pakistani authorities.
"UTN provided Usama bin Laden and the Taliban with information about chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. During UTN visits to Afghanistan, Bashir-Ud-Din met Bin Laden and Al-Qaida leaders and discussed nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. During 2001, Bashir-Ud-Din also met Mullah Omar, listed as Mohammed Omar Ghulam Nabi. During a follow-up meeting, an associate of Usama bin Laden indicated that he had nuclear material and wanted to know how to use it to make a weapon. Bashir-Ud-Din provided information about the infrastructure needed for a nuclear weapons program and the effects of nuclear weapons," the United Nations statement read.
The ISI eventually released Mahmood, claiming that he lacked the technical know-how to independently assemble a nuclear weapon.
Born in Pakistan and educated in the United Kingdom, Mahmood was conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's third-highest civilian honour, by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Ironically, Mahmood later became a vocal critic of Sharif.
Mahmood's scientific writings also feature djinns, the mythical beings that feature prominently in Islamic literature. According to Mahmood, these beings are key to solving earth's energy crisis.
His son, Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, emerged professionally through a separate channel, the Pakistan Army. Trained as an officer in the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Chaudhry has held various postings, including within the military operations directorate and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO), an institution involved in Pakistan's defence research. DESTO had been subjected to US sanctions following Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998, though these were eased after 9/11 to facilitate cooperation in the War on Terror.
According to the book The Man from Pakistan by investigative journalists Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, Mahmood viewed Pakistan's nuclear arsenal not as an asset but as the collective property of the Muslim community. He believed that nuclear weapons should be shared with other Islamic countries, particularly those confronting the West.
The book describes a 2001 meeting in Kandahar during which Mahmood and Majeed offered technical guidance to al-Qaeda operatives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Procurement rules for scientific research eased
Mumbai: In a resounding shift, the ministry of finance eased a long-standing bottleneck in procurement rules that once tethered researchers to the govt e-Marketplace (GeM), now allowing them to source scientific equipment and consumables from outside it. The revision in monetary ceilings and procurement channels, officials say, required the direct intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the scientific community, this isn't just administrative reform—it's an acknowledgment and a huge relief. "Science cannot be caged in platforms and progress cannot always be L1," said a frustrated scientist, who said procurement was running into long delays because of cost and quality issues. The spirit behind GeM portal is, in principle, noble, said most scientists—designed to uplift Indian suppliers and foster a self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem. "But behind the digital veneer of transparency and procurement lies a troubling reality." "As a scientist, I ask—what truly serves the nation? If I want to order a computer that serves my requirements today, I cannot buy one unless it is L1," said professor at the School of Biotechnology at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Binay Panda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo Five amendments have been made to existing procurement rules. Vice-Chancellors and directors of India's top scientific and academic institutions no longer have to wait for clearances to procure scientific equipment and consumables for research. Under the newly eased rules, they now hold the power to approve Global Tender Enquiries—up to a staggering Rs 200 crore—if they believe the need is justified. No central nod, no extra scrutiny. Just their judgment. Similarly, the ceiling for direct purchases—those made without quotations—has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. And what once required a drawn-out trail of tenders—purchases from Rs 1 to 10 lakh—can now be cleared by a purchase committee for anything up to Rs 25 lakh. Additionally, the limits on limited tender enquiry have been lifted—from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. And perhaps, most telling of all, said scientists—the need for open tenders—earlier triggered at Rs 50 lakh—will now apply only to purchases above Rs 1 crore. Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, took to social media and termed this as "a landmark step" for enabling #EaseOfDoingResearch. "This will reduce delays, also enhance autonomy and flexibility for research institutions—empowering them to innovate faster," he added. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Prof Abhay Karandikar, said, "It was made possible by the collective efforts of everyone, including other scientific secretaries, PSA, Department of Expenditure and Cabinet Secretariat. " Another scientist explained that in this "algorithm-driven marketplace, the lowest bidder always wins, never mind if the product fails the test of quality. What use is cost-efficiency if it sacrifices precision and most importantly, the requirements of a scientific experiment? What use is patriotism if it's only glued on?" "They don't really make these products here," added Prof Panda. "They import many parts, assemble them locally, and slap on a Make in India sticker—as if that alone sanctifies the machine." He quickly added, "If there is a good Indian product, we do not think twice. We prefer make-in-India by default—it's more affordable, support is better, and it's close by." Most scientists echoed this. However, "We don't want to buy an Indian product if science suffers. "
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
palantir technologies stock news: Palantir CEO Alex Karp predicts U.S.-China AI race will have one winner as GOP slams Trump's data deal
Why does Alex Karp believe the U.S.-China AI race will have only one winner? Is the West falling behind in AI innovation? What's the controversy surrounding Palantir's government work? ADVERTISEMENT How much government work has Palantir secured under Trump? ADVERTISEMENT How has Palantir's stock performed in the last year? ADVERTISEMENT What's next for Palantir and U.S. leadership in AI? FAQs: Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) CEO Alex Karp has issued a strong warning about the ongoing artificial intelligence race between the United States and China. Speaking on CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' Thursday, Karp stated bluntly that the AI arms race 'will have one winner,' and he urged Western countries to act quickly or risk falling behind. While he highlighted the benefits of AI, he also underscored its risks, warning that failing to innovate responsibly could put democratic nations at a disadvantage. His comments come amid political criticism and a dip in Palantir's emphasized that the global competition in artificial intelligence is not just about technology—it's about values, power, and national security. According to Karp, 'either you win or you lose in this game.' He made it clear that the AI race isn't like traditional markets where multiple players can thrive; instead, there will likely be one dominant power, and he believes it's crucial that Western democracies lead that credited American corporate culture for fostering rapid innovation, saying that U.S. companies are uniquely positioned to adapt quickly and push tech boundaries. 'No other economy has corporate leaders as adaptable and tech-savvy while remaining deeply grounded in industry expertise,' he warning wasn't just for the U.S. government—it was a message for all Western allies. He urged countries in Europe and beyond to learn from America's aggressive innovation approach. He expressed concern that without similar urgency and investment, other democratic nations could lose ground in AI development, making the global balance of power increasingly tilted in China's urgency he stressed reflects a broader concern among policymakers and tech leaders about China's rapid advancements in AI, especially in military and surveillance Karp made headlines with his AI warnings, Palantir is also facing political heat. Some Republican lawmakers are criticizing the Trump administration's expanding deals with the company, citing concerns over surveillance and data privacy. There are reports alleging that Palantir helped gather information on Americans during Trump's directly addressed these claims, calling them 'ridiculous.' He denied that Palantir surveilled U.S. citizens to aid the federal government, insisting that the company operates within strict legal and ethical the pushback from GOP lawmakers has had a market impact. On Thursday, PLTR stock fell by 7.77%, closing at $119.91, following reports of criticism over the company's government the controversy, Palantir has significantly expanded its footprint in the federal government. Since Donald Trump took office, the company has secured over $113 million in new or extended contracts, not including a massive $795 million deal with the Department of Defense. These contracts span across various government departments, including defense, intelligence, and public growing role in national security, and its work with the U.S. military, puts it at the center of both innovation and political recent criticism and Thursday's stock dip, Palantir has seen a 435% surge in its stock value over the past 12 months. Investors have largely backed the company's strong positioning in AI and defense technologies, as well as its growing list of public sector and private sector Karp's comments—and the political tension around federal contracts—signal that volatility may continue. As the AI race intensifies, Palantir's future may depend just as much on public trust as it does on government countries like China investing billions into AI, Karp's call for the West to 'keep up' isn't just a company pitch—it's a broader plea for urgency. Whether it's through policy changes, public-private partnerships, or stronger investment in AI research, the next few years could decide who leads the global tech the AI landscape evolves, Palantir Technologies remains at the center of the debate—balancing innovation, ethics, politics, and national security. Karp's stark message is clear: the AI race isn't slowing down, and only the most prepared nation will win.A1: He believes AI dominance will go to one nation, urging the West to move faster.A2: No, CEO Alex Karp denied all surveillance claims linked to the Trump administration.
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Pakistan cannot launch nuclear bombs from sea while India can do it easily, this is due to...
(Image: New Delhi: There are 9 countries in the world that have nuclear weapons and these 9 countries include both India and Pakistan. Time and again, Pakistan has threatened to use its nuclear weapons against India. One such instance was during the recent tension between India and Pakistan, when Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif threatened nuclear attack on India. Despite having nuclear weapons, Pakistan has many weaknesses, one of them is that Pakistan cannot fire nuclear bombs from the sea. Let us tell you what is that weakness due to which Pakistan cannot fire nuclear bombs from the sea. There are only a few countries in the world that have the capability of nuclear triad, that is, such countries have the capability to launch nuclear attacks from all three mediums, land, air and water, in which the first one is land-based missiles, with which nuclear attacks are carried out. The second number includes bombs dropped from aircraft and the third number includes submarines or missiles launched from the sea to attack the enemy from the sea. Pakistan is capable of attacking in the first two ways, but if it comes to a nuclear attack from the sea, then Pakistan's weakness comes out in the open. Pakistan does not have any nuclear submarine yet that can launch a nuclear missile from inside the sea. This is Pakistan's biggest weakness. India has the missile capability of submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) like K-15 and K-4, which are capable of launching a nuclear attack from inside the sea. On the other hand, Pakistan is still far behind in SLBM technology. Due to low defense budget and lack of technology, Pakistan has not been able to acquire this capability yet. Along with this, the Pakistani Navy is smaller and less developed than India.
