WASHINGTON, Feb 20: Representative Edward J. Markey, co-chair of the bipartisan congressional task force on non-proliferation and a member of the select committee on homeland security, released on Friday a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell requesting further information on the connections between the Pakistani and North Korean nuclear programmes.

The letter also asked when and if sanctions will be applied to Pakistan for assisting the North Korean nuclear weapons programme in violation of US non-proliferation laws.

“The Bush administration’s double standard on non-proliferation becomes more apparent every day,” said Mr Markey, explaining, “If you don’t have nuclear weapons yet, like Iraq we’ll threaten to attack you. But if you do have such weapons, and if you help another country get them, we’ll just stand by and let you go about your business.”

Rep. Markey said, “It’s time for the Bush administration to demonstrate its commitment to non-proliferation by either sanctioning Pakistan for assisting the North Korean’s efforts to construct nuclear weapons or by explaining to the American people why they believe sanctions should be waived.

‘‘If the Bush administration really believes that Pakistan’s assistance against Al Qaeda justifies issuance of a waiver for Pakistan’s assistance

to North Korea, it should say so.”

Sections 101 and 102 of the Arms Export Control Act (the Symington and Glenn amendments) and Section 2(b)(4) of the Export-Import Bank Act require sanctioning any country that helps another gain access to nuclear materials, Markey said.

The sanctions are not optional, but they can be waived if the president elects to notify Congress of his intent to waive them. President Bush has announced neither sanctions nor waivers.