PUTRAJAYA, (Malaysia), Oct 16: Foreign Minister Khursheed M. Kasuri on Thursday denied Israeli charges suggesting that Islamabad was helping Libya develop nuclear weapons.

“There is no bar on telling lies,” Mr Kasuri said here.

“No, Pakistan is not helping any country and it will never do so. Why should it? It’s not in our interest.”

An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had earlier quoted Mr Sharon as saying Libya was trying to develop nuclear weapons with help from countries such as North Korea and Pakistan.

Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, tries to maintain a policy of ambiguity over its nuclear status.

A 2002 CIA report stated Libya was developing a civilian nuclear research programme after United Nations sanctions were lifted but was dependent on foreign suppliers to advance it.—Reuters