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WASHINGTON: The United States continues to value and support Pakistan's assurances on nuclear non-proliferation.

The State Department Spokesman, in this behalf, Monday particularly referred to President General Pervez Musharraf's October 2002 assurances, 'which we trust and believe.'

With President Musharraf, he said, the U.S. was pleased to receive support and assurances, which we trust and believe, Richard Boucher said in response to a question.

Accusations

To the accusation on cooperation with Iran in its nuclear Programme, Boucher said the news item refers to November 10 IAEA report and Iran having received cooperation from various sources, 'but it does not identify the sources.'

He again referred to Pakistan's firm assurances that  extremist elements or al-Qaeda could not get control of Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

Pakistan's Assurance

It may be noted that Pakistan has time and again emphatically reiterated its firm stand and resolve that its nuclear assets are under impeccable command and control system.

'President Musharraf has assured that Pakistan's nuclear assets would never fall in wrong hands, and in hands of any extremist elements," Boucher said.

Spokesman said that 'Pakistani authorities were contacted Monday and we have received firm reiteration of its stand.'

No restrictions on Dr A Q Khan

Pakistan Times Special Correspondent Maria A Khan adds: There are no 'unspecified' restrictions on nuclear scientist of Pakistan Dr A Q Khan as reported by a section of press, said the Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan on Monday evening.

'National Hero'

'He (Dr A Q Khan) is considered to be a national hero and he is too senior a scientist to take part in such kind of de-briefings, however some questions have been raised with him relating to ongoing de-briefing sessions,' said Masood Khan when contacted to comment on press reports suggesting that Dr A Q was also being de-briefed.

Unfortunate and Irresponsible Stories

The spokesman described as unfortunate and irresponsible some of the statements which have recently appeared in a section of the press regarding alleged nuclear proliferation by Pakistan.

'Pakistan is a responsible nuclear country and its command and control system can be compared with such systems of most advanced nuclear countries in the world,' the spokesman emphasized.

However, he said, 'there might be some stray cases of collaboration of low level scientists of KRL, as alleged by west'. 'Yet such cases of alleged collaboration don’t reflect on the Government’s or state of Pakistan’s involvement with some countries having nuclear ambitions,' the spokesman remarked.

Pakistan dubs WP story as 'Speculative, and totally Untrue'

Pakistan Times Washington Bureau Chief reports that emphatically dispelling the impression created by the Washington Post report on nuclear issue appearing Sunday, the Pakistan Embassy Spokesman has described it as 'speculative, and totally untrue.'

The Deputy Chief of the Mission regretted that some American journalists, are in the old habit of criticizing Pakistan and their basic aim is to find fault with Pakistan's nuclear programme.'

Commenting on Joby Warrick's lengthy write-up from Vienna, Mohammad Sadiq said Monday that 'instead of finding the facts, the journalist has resorted to excessive use of concoction.' 'It is very unfortunate as it does not serve the purpose of non-proliferation.'

'Instead', he said 'it is serving the purpose of lobbyists that work to undermine Pakistan.'

The Official reminded that 'Pakistan is a partner in non-proliferation efforts.' Yet, those lobbyists, he said 'would, instead, like to target Pakistan.' The WP report claimed that 'evidence' discovered from so-called 'officials familiar with investigation' in a probe of Iran's secret nuclear programme points overwhelmingly to Pakistan 'as the source of crucial technology' that put Iran on a fast track toward becoming a nuclear weapons power.