NEW YORK, Jan 29: The US State Department has reaffirmed its satisfaction with the "very firm commitment" given by President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan's nuclear assets would not fall into the wrong hands and welcomed the investigations launched by the government.

At a press briefing in Washington on Wednesday, spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We think they've shown how high a priority it is for the Musharraf government to make sure that Pakistan is not cooperating in any way or that Pakistani sensitive nuclear assets don't fall into the wrong hands."

Asked about protests over detention of some scientists in Pakistan, Mr Boucher said: "I think we've seen a very firm commitment from President Musharraf on making sure that their assets and expertise don't fall into the wrong hands, and we now see them conducting an investigation. We've welcomed the investigations."

Asked about India-Pakistan talks, Mr Boucher said: "The discussions that I think you're referring to between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, again, Kashmir, other issues, all the issues, that kind of dialogue is something we've always supported."