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Authors: Azam Hossain
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CC238. In order to be of use in nuclear production the uranium ore needs to be refined through various processes to produce urania –uranium oxide, otherwise known as yellowcake. It’s that that Zhukov must be smuggling. When hit at high speed by a neutron in a nuclear reactor it can be transmuted to fissile Plutonium-239........and we all know the weapons potential of Plutonium.”
This information with Guy’s precision, calmness and erudition left me cold. It made perfect sense: Illegal exports, large sums of money, criminal gangs and murder - and where did it all lead? Nuclear weapons! I listened as the enormity of it all began to sink in as Guy continued, “This means that things are as grave as we had imagined. You may recall Tarquin I mentioned at the Embassy that some of our spies, contacts and informants in the east had provided intelligence which was of concern to us. The strong suspicion that Zhukov is smuggling Yellowcake appears to be consistent with some previously received intelligence.”
“Yes, go on,” I said intrigued.
Guy looked across at Ollie as if to get her support and then continued, “You’ve no doubt heard of the state of Azakistan. It was previously part of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It’s a failed state if ever there was one. Its government is effectively controlled by criminal gangs. It may be a government by name, but it does little governing that benefit’s the majority of the population. The intelligence we’ve received leads us to conclude that at least some of the exports that CB Holdings have been supplying are destined there.”
Guy then reached for a large envelope and emptied the photographic contents on to his desk.
He continued, “These were taken by one of our operatives in Azakistan.”
They showed two men. One of whom Guy pointed out was Zhukov meeting Ghulam Riaz Mesud; the pictures showed a European man – Zhukov, with a bearded man who was dressed in turban and the traditional dress often seen worn by men in Central Asia.
“Mesud is the leader of a secessionist movement the JFF (Jihad for a Free Faryab) with strong Islamist tendencies in Azakistan. He wants the North West of the country to succede from the rest of Azakistan on the pretext that it, Faryab, is majority Muslim. Over the last 5 years he and his motley crew have engaged in numerous bombings, kidnappings and assassinations in the province of Faryab. However, recently they’ve become emboldened enough to carry out attacks outside the North West.”
I recollected that I had heard of the fellow on the few occasions, over the years when I had troubled myself to see what the media had to say for itself.
Guy continued, “This is a bad enough situation for the natives of Azakistan and anyone concerned with the countries welfare and the stability of the region. However Mesud has received sustenance and succour from the Persian government, which has naturally put a strain on the relations between the two countries. I’m afraid that Mesud’s organisation has strong connections with other Islamist groups including Al Qaeda. The province of Faryab, which is largely the area in which Mesud operates, is effectively a lawless zone where the government’s writ can barely be said to run. It’s largely mountainous and barren; an ideal ground for guerrilla fighting from whence you can easily vanish into the mountains.”
Guy paused looking pretty grim, which I later realised was the pause for the denouement which he was about to deliver, “The Persians, Iranians if you will, are subject to U.N. economic sanctions, designed to deter them from developing their own nuclear weapons.”
Persians? I thought; this was sounding more curious by the minute.
“What I’m about to divulge,” Guy continued, “is something so audacious and devilishly duplicitous that we have had our spies, contacts and informants in the east, check, corroborate and verify the received intelligence so thoroughly as to
This information with Guy’s precision, calmness and erudition left me cold. It made perfect sense: Illegal exports, large sums of money, criminal gangs and murder - and where did it all lead? Nuclear weapons! I listened as the enormity of it all began to sink in as Guy continued, “This means that things are as grave as we had imagined. You may recall Tarquin I mentioned at the Embassy that some of our spies, contacts and informants in the east had provided intelligence which was of concern to us. The strong suspicion that Zhukov is smuggling Yellowcake appears to be consistent with some previously received intelligence.”
“Yes, go on,” I said intrigued.
Guy looked across at Ollie as if to get her support and then continued, “You’ve no doubt heard of the state of Azakistan. It was previously part of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. It’s a failed state if ever there was one. Its government is effectively controlled by criminal gangs. It may be a government by name, but it does little governing that benefit’s the majority of the population. The intelligence we’ve received leads us to conclude that at least some of the exports that CB Holdings have been supplying are destined there.”
Guy then reached for a large envelope and emptied the photographic contents on to his desk.
He continued, “These were taken by one of our operatives in Azakistan.”
They showed two men. One of whom Guy pointed out was Zhukov meeting Ghulam Riaz Mesud; the pictures showed a European man – Zhukov, with a bearded man who was dressed in turban and the traditional dress often seen worn by men in Central Asia.
“Mesud is the leader of a secessionist movement the JFF (Jihad for a Free Faryab) with strong Islamist tendencies in Azakistan. He wants the North West of the country to succede from the rest of Azakistan on the pretext that it, Faryab, is majority Muslim. Over the last 5 years he and his motley crew have engaged in numerous bombings, kidnappings and assassinations in the province of Faryab. However, recently they’ve become emboldened enough to carry out attacks outside the North West.”
I recollected that I had heard of the fellow on the few occasions, over the years when I had troubled myself to see what the media had to say for itself.
Guy continued, “This is a bad enough situation for the natives of Azakistan and anyone concerned with the countries welfare and the stability of the region. However Mesud has received sustenance and succour from the Persian government, which has naturally put a strain on the relations between the two countries. I’m afraid that Mesud’s organisation has strong connections with other Islamist groups including Al Qaeda. The province of Faryab, which is largely the area in which Mesud operates, is effectively a lawless zone where the government’s writ can barely be said to run. It’s largely mountainous and barren; an ideal ground for guerrilla fighting from whence you can easily vanish into the mountains.”
Guy paused looking pretty grim, which I later realised was the pause for the denouement which he was about to deliver, “The Persians, Iranians if you will, are subject to U.N. economic sanctions, designed to deter them from developing their own nuclear weapons.”
Persians? I thought; this was sounding more curious by the minute.
“What I’m about to divulge,” Guy continued, “is something so audacious and devilishly duplicitous that we have had our spies, contacts and informants in the east, check, corroborate and verify the received intelligence so thoroughly as to
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