Apocalyptic Rumors Roil Pakistan

WHEN PAKISTAN balked at a previously agreed upon deal to hand back enriched uranium, donated a half-century ago under “Atoms for Peace,’’ the United States was naturally miffed. Pakistan’s WikiLeaked reason, because the transfer would be interpreted locally as a US attempt to get its hands on Pakistan’s bomb, may sound absurd to Western ears. But to some Pakistan’s foot-dragging made a certain sense.