US says it values Pakistan's assurance on nonproliferation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 06, 2004

US says it values Pakistan's assurance on nonproliferation

The United States said Thursday that it values assurances made by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on nonproliferation, insisting that it is up to the Pakistani government to decide how to deal with nuclear leaks.

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The United States said on Feb. 5 that it values assurances made by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on nonproliferation, insisting that it is up to the Pakistani government to decide how to deal with nuclear leaks.

"The government of Pakistan was not involved in any kind of proliferation activities," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told agencies reporters.

"We value those assurances and (the) actions (taken by President Musharraf) since he made those assurances demonstrate his commitment to the issue of proliferation," he added.

The spokesman was responding to questions about President Musharraf's decision on Thursday to pardon Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, for leaking nuclear secrets abroad.

In a nationally-televised speech on Wednesday, Khan admitted leaking secrets and begged for forgiveness following a lengthy investigation into the leaks.

"That is a matter that the government of Pakistan is addressing," McClellan said. "We appreciate their efforts to address what is a serious concern which is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

Addressing a news briefing on Thursday, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher noted that President Musharraf had assured the international community that "he intends to make sure that Pakistan's nuclear technology, (or) weapons of mass destruction expertise, does not contribute to proliferation."

"We consider that this investigation and the seriousness with which they have pursued this matter testifies to the fact that they are serious about meeting their commitments in that regard," Boucher said. ��

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