Islamabad: Pakistan denied as baseless reports in the US media alleging it supplied critical nuclear weapons technology and equipment to North Korea in exchange for missiles and missile technology from the Stalinist state.

"Pakistan's commitments, affirmed at the highest level, that it would not export any sensitive technologies to third countries remains unquestionable," a foreign office statement said.

In an apparent damage control exercise, it emphasised, "Pakistan has a strong export control regime in place."

A day after Pyongyang shocked the international community disclosing it possessed nuclear weapons, Pakistan foreign office said the country maintained an "impeccable" record in keeping its commitment not to export nuclear technologies.

'The New York Times', quoting US intelligence officials, reported that the equipment, which may have included gas centrifuges to make weapons-grade uranium, was provided as part of a barter deal in which Pakistan got medium range North Korean missiles to counter India's nuclear arsenal.

"What you have here is a perfect meeting of interests, the North had what the Pakistanis needed, and the Pakistanis had a way for (North Korean leader) Kim Jong- Il to restart a nuclear programme we had stopped," it said.

The paper said China and Russia were less prominent suppliers, the daily added.

US President George W Bush has branded North Korea as part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and Iran.

PTI