Declassified transcripts show Putin warned Bush about Pakistan’s nuclear risks

Recently declassified records from the US National Security Archive show that Pakistan’s nuclear programme had quietly become a major point of concern for both the United States and Russia, with senior leaders on both sides uneasy about its stability and potential for proliferation.

Made public under a Freedom of Information Act request, the documents include detailed transcripts of conversations between then US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin between 2001 and 2008. The discussions reveal that Pakistan’s nuclear activities--especially its connections to Iran and the AQ Khan network--consistently raised red flags in both Washington and Moscow.

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US–Russia alarm over Pakistan’s nuclear stability

In a 2005 Oval Office meeting, Putin raised concerns about evidence of Pakistani-origin uranium being found in Iranian centrifuges, questioning why Pakistan continued to escape global scrutiny despite its record.

"But it's not clear what the labs (Iran) have, where they are. Cooperation with Pakistan still exists," Putin said.

Bush responded by acknowledging Washington’s concerns, stating, "I talked to Musharraf about that. I told him we're worried about transfers to Iran and North Korea. They put AQ Khan in jail, and some of his buddies under house arrest. We want to know what they said. I keep reminding Musharraf of that. Either he's getting nothing, or he's not being forthcoming." Putin highlighted the discovery of uranium of Pakistani origin in Iranian centrifuges, saying, "As far as I understand, they found uranium of Pakistani origin in the centrifuges."

Bush acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, responding, "Yes, the stuff the Iranians forgot to tell the IAEA about. That's a violation." "It was of Pakistani origin. That makes me nervous," Putin said. "It makes us nervous, too," Bush replied.

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‘A junta with nuclear weapons’

The documents also revisit an earlier meeting between the two leaders in June 2001 in Slovenia, where Putin bluntly described Pakistan’s political system and nuclear status. "I am concerned about Pakistan. It is just a junta with nuclear weapons. It is no democracy, yet the West makes no criticism of it. Should talk about it," Putin said.

Both leaders expressed concern that Pakistan’s internal instability and opaque command structures could allow sensitive nuclear technology to fall into the wrong hands.

AQ Khan network and lingering doubts

The transcripts repeatedly reference the notorious AQ Khan network, which supplied nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. Despite Pakistan’s claims of dismantling the network, US and Russian leaders remained unconvinced.

Bush told Putin that Washington was still seeking clarity on what information and materials had been transferred. "We want to know what they said," he said, reflecting lingering distrust of Pakistani disclosures.

India flags long-standing proliferation concerns

The revelations come as India recently renewed criticism of Pakistan’s nuclear record following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Islamabad had secretly tested nuclear weapons.

Responding to those claims, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Clandestine and illegal nuclear activities are in keeping with Pakistan's history, which is centred around decades of smuggling, export control violations, secret partnerships, AQ Khan network and further proliferation."

"India has always drawn the attention of the international community to these aspects of Pakistan's record," he added.

Putin repeatedly warned about the dangers of nuclear weapons in the hands of regimes lacking democratic accountability, while Bush acknowledged that Pakistan’s role in illicit transfers posed a continuing threat.

The National Security Archive said the documents offer “previously unavailable evidence” of how deeply both powers worried about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, even as official statements at the time remained measured. Pakistan, which developed nuclear weapons outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has long faced scrutiny over its proliferation history — particularly after the exposure of the AQ Khan network in the early 2000s.