The United States has expressed concern over Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons but parried queries on Pakistan's nuclear cooperation with 'rogue' states like North Korea and Iran and fears raised on such weapons falling into the hands of terrorist organisations.
Undersecretary of State John R Bolton, while testifying before the House International Relations Committee, said the countries that possess or aspire to possess weapons of of mass destruction were of "immediate concern to us and
friends and allies."
He, however, skirted questions about Pakistan's import of missiles from North Korea and payment in nuclear technology and equipment for North Korea's efforts to produce weapons-grade uranium by centrifuge and its reported aid to Iran.
When pressed by Congressman Joseph Crowley, Co-Chairman of the India Caucus, Bolton said that Pakistan had denied the report on nuclear know-how and equipment and, on the issue of purchase of missiles from North Korea.
When asked by Crowley as to what the Bush Administration and State Department is doing to presure Islamabad to fully disclose the nature and scope of its assistance to North Korea and Iran, Bolton said: "The Government of Pakistan has denied that they have recently made such transfers.
"That subject has been discussed with them by Secretary [of State Colin] Powell and others in very serious terms...and we have been assured that it does not extend to the issue that you have raised."
Bolton said the US aim ultimately is not just to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction but to eliminate or
roll back such weapons from rogue states and terrorist groups that already possess them or are close to doing so.
"While we stress peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the proliferation threat," he added, "as President Bush has said
repeatedly, we rule out no options. To do so would give the proliferators the safe haven they do not deserve, and pose a risk to our innocent civilian population and those of our friends and allies."
