ISLAMABAD, March 5: A Foreign Office spokesman on Friday dispelled the impression created by a section of the press that the visit of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was primarily about non-proliferation.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," the spokesman said about the impression and added that most of the time, talks were devoted to bilateral relations and the Pakistan-India dialogue.

"At no point during the visit, the question of additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty was raised or discussed by Foreign Secretary Straw," the spokesman said. He said Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri had categorically stated that there was no question of a rollback of Pakistan's nuclear programme.

"The minister has reiterated several times that the international community, particularly the NPT states, should recognize the new realities after the 1998 tests," he said.

Describing Mr Straw's visit as highly successful, the spokesman said the British foreign secretary held talks with Mr Kasuri, President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on a wide range of issues.

The issues discussed included bilateral relations, economic, commercial and consular cooperation, recent movement in the Pakistan-India dialogue, the war on terrorism, non-proliferation and restoration of Pakistan's Commonwealth membership.

"The media has correctly captured these facets of the dialogue," said the spokesman but added that a section of the press had given the impression that the visit was primarily about non-proliferation. He said Mr Straw expressed appreciation for the steps taken by the government to curb proliferation. -APP