Pakistanis to share data on N-deals

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan pledged Wednesday to share information on black market deals that allegedly moved nuclear know- how to North Korea, data that could give other countries a better idea of the communist nation's atomic arsenal.

During a meeting with a Japanese diplomat, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan will hand over information to Japan when its investigation is complete.

Pakistani officials have shied away from saying directly that they will hand over evidence to the United States. Musharraf has drawn strong domestic criticism for his cooperation with the United States' anti-terror campaign in neighboring Afghanistan, and is keen to avoid any appearance of being a U.S. puppet.

Japan is one of six nations due to join a meeting on North Korea's nuclear program in Beijing later this month. The United States will also be there, and U.S. officials have expressed hope that information from Pakistan could help clarify details about North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

"Pakistan would share with Japan the results of its internal investigations on any illegal transfers to North Korea when the investigations were completed," a Foreign Ministry statement said after the talks with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Ichiro Fujisaki.

North Korea has denied receiving technology from Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, who was pardoned by Musharraf last week after he confessed to leaking nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

In an interview with CNN aired Wednesday, former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto questioned Musharraf's claim that he didn't know about Khan's activities.

"Very few people in Pakistan believe that Dr. Khan, who was under strict monitoring, could have unilaterally or independently run such a vast network," Bhutto told CNN. "And because Gen. Musharraf has pardoned Mr. Khan, people are wondering who Gen. Musharraf is covering up for."

Bhutto also claimed Musharraf himself visited Libya.

"I know that Gen. Musharraf visited Libya. His minister of commerce took out a full-page advertisement inviting tenders for nuclear-related products," she said.

Pakistan began its investigation into alleged transfers of nuclear technology in November after the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, requested help in determining if Pakistani scientists were involved in proliferation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said Pakistan was working with a range of groups interested in stopping the spread of nuclear technology.

"Pakistan is a responsible state and will cooperate so that this underworld is unearthed," said military spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan.

Six scientists and security officials remain in custody in the investigation, and Khan is being guarded under tight security at his Islamabad home.

Sultan declined to say whether Khan was still being interrogated, or reveal any details of previous questioning on the scientist's ties to North Korea.

"Whenever there is a need to question somebody it can be done," Sultan said.

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