Islamabad to help raze illegal networks: FO

Published February 13, 2004

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan has said that Pakistan would continue to help the international community and concerned states unearth and dismantle illicit nuclear proliferation networks.

Commenting on US President George Bush's speech, the spokesman told APP on Thursday: "We are glad that President Bush, in his speech, has noted President Gen Pervez Musharraf's resolve that Pakistan would not allow proliferation from its soil."

He reiterated that the government had never proliferated and would never proliferate. Mr Khan said President Bush has outlined the challenges facing the international community in curbing and countering proliferation.

The spokesman said President Bush has rightly pointed out that the underworld spans Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The spokesman said that the recent proactive investigations by Pakistan were a step in this direction. "We are willing to share information and results of our investigations to assist in exposing and eliminating these networks.

"We have broken a ring of a few traffickers who were found involved in the illegal transfers of sensitive information and technology to other countries. They will not be allowed to resume their activities, under any circumstances."

Mr Khan said strict security restrictions have been imposed on those being investigated. "They have been effectively and completely deactivated. At the end of the investigations, the individuals responsible for wrongdoing will face the force of our laws." -APP