U.S. Says It Knew of Pakistani Reactor Plan

Congress Learned of Nation's Nuclear Expansion From Independent Analysts

By Joby Warrick

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 25, 2006; Page A11

The Bush administration acknowledged yesterday that it had long known about Pakistan's plans to build a large plutonium-production reactor, but it said the White House was working to dissuade Pakistan from using the plant to expand its nuclear arsenal.

"We discourage military use of the facility," White House spokesman Tony Snow said of a powerful heavy-water reactor under construction at Pakistan's Khushab nuclear site in Punjab state.