Washington: Attacking the US administration for ignoring Pakistan's involvement in providing nuclear assistance to North Korea, US Democrat Congressman Frank Pallone has called for a full probe into the matter and a ban on all military sales to Pakistan.

"What I find appalling is that this nuclear program that the United States worked tirelessly to halt, was in fact sustained through the assistance of Pakistan," Pallone, a founder of the India Caucus, wrote in a letter sent to President Geroge W Bush.

"Not only did the transfer of critical equipment from to North Korea take place around 1997, but in addition, this relationship has continued even after President Musharraf seized power in 1999," the Congressman said.

He said, "It is clear that Pakistan most likely exchanged equipment with North Korea for missiles for the purpose of challenging India."

Demanding "immediate steps" to ban all military sales to Pakistan and reimposition of Symington sanctions on the country for assisting a foreign nuclear weapons program, he said that Pakistan was thought to have provided technology even after September 11, 2001, which is particularly "outrageous".

He said the administration should conduct a "full investigation" of Pakistan's role in providing North Korea with nuclear assistance. "It is important to fully explore and disclose particularly to what extent President Musharraf has been involved with North Korea since his military coup in 1999," he said.

PTI