Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has said that Pakistan is a sovereign country and not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
There is no question of allowing anyone to inspect or hand over documents regarding investigations on nuclear proliferation, he told BBC.
"We have to safeguard our nuclear and strategic assets which are not open to inspection. We will not be open to inspection," he added.
He said Pakistan started courageously and voluntarily to ascertain facts regarding allegation of nuclear weapon proliferation. As soon as information was provided to Pakistan that there was something going on, Pakistan acted quickly and the network to nuclear proliferation from Pakistan end has been broken, he said.
Pakistan acquired nuclear weapons for strategic deterrence against India. It was not logical to say that Pakistan proliferated, he added.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Munir said, has expressed his satisfaction at the co-operation and the assurances provided by Pakistan and now it was ensured that the network was not broken. "As far as Pakistan was concerned, we were co-operating and we shall co-operate voluntarily to ensure and assure everyone about the facts and Pakistan has no reason to hide the facts," Munir said.
Pakistan was partner in the fight against nuclear proliferation. There was no evidence of transfer of nuclear weapons proliferation to non-state actors.
He said it was a difficult technology. Even states have difficulties in mastering nuclear weapons technology. It was hard to believe that non-state actors would have the capability to acquire such weapons.
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