WASHINGTON, June 26: President Gen Pervez Musharraf told Congress on Thursday that Pakistan’s is committed to nonproliferation but it is not going to give up its nuclear assets.

“We are committed to non-proliferation, we are not proliferating at all, but our strategic assets are under excellent, strong control and there’s no chance that they will fall into wrong hands,” said the president.

Talking to reporters after his meeting with the House Committee on International Relations, the president also indicated that if the Middle East peace process proceeds smoothly, Pakistan can review its policy towards Israel.

But he warned that this was a very sensitive issue and the nation had to be taken into confidence before a decision was taken. “A consensus needs to be built,” he said.

The president said he briefed the House and the Senate’s committees on foreign affairs on various regional and international issues, leading to a better perception of Pakistan’s position.

Mr Musharraf said that the US administration appreciated Pakistan’s “step-by-step approach” to resolving the Kashmir dispute.

“US officials understand that this is the right approach for resolving the Kashmir dispute for creating peace and stability in South Asia,” he said.

Explaining his formula, the president said: “First, India and Pakistan need to start talking to each other. In the second stage they have to accept the centrality of the Kashmir dispute and in the third stage they need to talk of a solution.”

“If we talk of the solution now, we will make no progress,” he added.

Later, Foreign Secretary Riaz M. Khokhar told Dawn that Senator Richard G. Lugar, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had held out an assurance that Senate would support Pakistan when the $3 billion aid package came up for hearing.

“Senator Lugar also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in combating international terrorism,” the foreign secretary said.