Saturday, February 14, 2004
Pakistan promises to share with Japan nuke details on N Korea
Press Trust of India Islamabad, February 12
Amid global alarm over the nuclear proliferation by the clandestine network of the country's top scientist AQ Khan, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has promised to share with Japan the results of investigations into the sale of nuclear technology by Pakistani scientists to North Korea.
He also told the top brass of Pakistan military that all channels of leakage of nuclear technology from Pakistan has been sealed.
Musharraf, who met the Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Fujisaki on Wednesday night said investigations into illicit nuclear transfers to North Korea had not yet concluded and Pakistan would share with Japan the results of investigations once they were finished.
Japan is one of the largest aide donors of Pakistan.
Fujisaki was in Islamabad for an update on the investigations as Tokyo was deeply concerned about the reports about AQ Khan's confession of transferring nuclear technology to North Korea, besides Iran and Libya. According to an official statement, Muhsarraf said "Pakistan has exposed the complicity of a few individuals with the nuclear blackmarket and is taking appropriate action against them."
He said Pakistan "has taken effective steps" to safeguard its nuclear assets and facilities which are now under the National Command Authority. Addressing the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee consisting of the Service Chiefs and other top military officials on Wednesday, Musharraf said the government had closed all the channels of leaks of technology in the country's nuclear establishment.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.