WASHINGTON, June 18: The US State Department has urged Pakistan to ensure that anyone associated with the so-called Khan network of nuclear proliferators is not “free to walk the streets.”

The department’s deputy spokesman, Tom Casey, made these remarks while commenting on reports that the new government in Islamabad had eased restrictions placed on Dr A. Q. Khan by the previous government.

At a regular briefing, the US official also urged Islamabad to ensure that none of its citizens indulges in proliferation activities.

“In terms of his (Dr Khan’s) status, we have always expressed our belief that anyone associated with this network should not be free to be able to walk the streets and engage in either continued proliferation activities, or to try and restart anything that might be there,” he said.

“Certainly, that’s always a concern and always something we talk with Pakistani officials about.”

The State Department’s reaction to easing of restrictions on Dr Khan followed a report by a Washington-based non-proliferation group that he had allegedly distributed designs of a nuclear weapon among the so-called rogue states; a charge he denies.

“Certainly, if we have any concerns that either Mr Khan or any Pakistani citizen is engaged in proliferation activities, we will raise that forcefully and directly with the government of Pakistan,” said Mr Casey.