Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has made significant claims regarding the relationship between the United States and Pakistan during the presidency of Pervez Musharraf. In a recent interview, Kiriakou stated that the US provided substantial financial aid to Pakistan, effectively "purchasing" Musharraf's cooperation. He alleged that Musharraf transferred control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal to the US due to fears of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. Kiriakou recalled, "When I was stationed in Pakistan in 2002, I was told unofficially that the Pentagon controlled the Pakistani nuclear arsenal."

Kiriakou also discussed the US's decision not to target Abdul Qadeer Khan, the architect of Pakistan's nuclear program, after intervention from the Saudi government. He noted, "If we had taken the Israeli approach, we would have just killed him. He was easy enough to find. But the Saudis came to us and said, 'Please leave him alone.'" He described this diplomatic pressure as a significant failure of US policy, calling it a "mistake" not to confront Khan directly.

The former CIA officer expressed that the US expected India to retaliate after the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but India exhibited what Kiriakou termed "strategic patience." He remarked, "The Indian government would have been perfectly within its rights to respond by striking Pakistan and they didn't. This kept the world from what might have been a nuclear exchange."

Kiriakou further elaborated on Musharraf's governance, stating that he maintained a dual approach, pretending to cooperate with the US on counterterrorism while continuing to support activities against India. He explained, "Musharraf had to keep the military happy. The military didn't care about Al-Qaeda; they cared about India."

Reflecting on the political climate in Pakistan, Kiriakou expressed concern over the potential for political disagreements to escalate into violence. He also shared a personal anecdote about Benazir Bhutto, highlighting the stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of Pakistani politicians and the struggles of the common people. He questioned how such leaders could face their citizens, stating, "How can they go back to Pakistan and look the Pakistani people in the face when their people don't even have shoes and enough food to eat?"

Kiriakou's insights shed light on the complex dynamics of US-Pakistan relations and the internal challenges facing Pakistan's political landscape during Musharraf's rule.