is what holds the strategic balance between the two or more belligerents". Accusation of role in Zia's death According to an article in the Express Tribune, Beg was in contact with senior scientist, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, about bringing Iran into the fold of "nuclear prowess" much to the annoyance of his superior and senior officer, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. At this point, without a green signal from President Zia-ul-Haq, Beg got acquainted with Dr. A.Q. Khan to secretly proliferate the technology crucial to master the nuclear fuel. On 1 December 2012, President Zia's son Ijaz-ul-Haq maintained that it was Beg who was conspired behind the death of his father. Earlier in 1988, the Shafiur Rehman Commission that was to establish the cause of the crash of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's plane concluded that because of Army's obstruction in the investigation, the real perpetrators behind the attack cannot be brought forward. Political activism Upon returning to civilian life, General Beg founded and established a policy think-tank institute in Islamabad, known as Foundation for Research on International Environment National Development and Security (Friends). He is the current founding chairman of the Friends think-tank since its foundations. Beg later founded the nationalist political party, the Awami Qaiyadat Party (lit. National Leadership Party) which continued to be a part of right-wing sphere. Though his party gained no political prominence and failed to compete in national general elections; his party remains registered in Election Commission with Gun as its election symbol. Musharraf on Beg General Beg was one of many professor under whom Musharraf had studied at National Defence University. Musharraf had high regards for Beg as one of his "significant professor" in his university years, but after 11 September 2001, they became estranged. Beg was labelled as one of many professors at NDU who were called "pseudo-intellectuals", by Musharraf. Awards and decorations Foreign decorations Literature Books authored by Beg Articles and works by Beg Further reading References Bibliography Zahid Hussain. Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with Militant Islam, New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. External links Official profile at Pakistan Army website Articles by Mirza Aslam Beg at Outlook India |- 1931 births Living people Mughal nobility People from Azamgarh district Muhajir people Baloch Regiment officers Pakistan Military Academy alumni National Defence University, Pakistan alumni Special Services Group officers People of the Bangladesh Liberation War Academic staff of the National Defence University, Pakistan Chiefs of Army Staff,