WASHINGTON, Jan 9: Pakistan's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and its debriefings of nuclear scientists have made clear "it takes its non-proliferation obligations seriously," says ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

In a letter to the editor sent in response to an article published by Washington Post, ambassador Qazi said: "The US administration has accepted Pakistan's assurances."

He said Pakistan has arrested a number of Taliban and made clear that it made no distinction between them and the remnants of Al Qaeda network. "The PML-Q's agreement with the MMA, far from implying an understanding with pro-Taliban forces, in fact, drives a clear wedge between conservative and traditionalist parliamentary politicians on the one hand and extremist/radical organizations on the other."

Qazi said "it is easy enough to fashion a wish list and judge reality by it. But it would be more responsible to assess the choices that reality offers." He said President Pervez Musharraf remains the best bet for "enlightened moderation" in Pakistan and the Muslim world and for the war against global terror.-APP