Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf on January 8 said a recent spate of media reports charging Pakistan and its nuclear scientists with proliferation was a "sinister smear campaign" orchestrated by "hostile lobbies" to denigrate and malign the country's "national heroes" and sully its "clean record".

"We are a responsible nation and are aware of our international obligations. Our command and control structures, which have been in place for four years now, are watertight.

"We reject all such malicious stories and allegations comprehensively," Musharraf said while receiving intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM), Hatf-V Ghauri missile, on behalf of the Army's strategic force command from the nuclear laboratory called Khan Research Laboratory (KRL).

His comments follow reports in national and international media alleging Pakistan's nuclear co-operation with "axis of evil" countries, especially North Korea. A newspaper here carried details of a brochure circulated by Dr A Q Khan, father of Pakistan's nuclear programme, offering nuclear technology for sale. Dr Khan retired last year and was later inducted as scientific advisor to the President.

January 8 ceremony was organised to receive Pakistan's long and short range missiles and launchers, which it claims, have been developed indigenously by KRL scientists and engineers.

In his speech, Musharraf said Ghauri missile systems symbolised national resolve and its induction in the strategic forces would "radiate" the necessary effects of deterrence.

Musharraf said the achievements of KRL in the twin fields of uranium enrichment and missile development were a source of "indomitable strength" to the nation and its leadership.

"The deterrence capability was developed through Pakistan's dedicated indigenous efforts and the nation had rendered sacrifices for it. Its sole purpose was deterrence of aggression and defence of our sovereignty," he said.

Musharraf also paid tributes to the scientists, engineers and workers of KRL for their "outstanding successes" and contributions in giving Pakistan a strategic capability and strengthening national security.

He said, "The patriotism, dedication and technical prowess of our scientists and engineers had made Pakistan a nuclear power with accurate and assured delivery systems, which have been put through a number of technical trials successfully."

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of KRL Dr Javed Ashraf Mirza highlighted the technical stages and production technology that went into the development of Ghauri systems.

The reports in the US media recently said that Pakistan exchanged nuclear know how for missile technology. Pakistan denied the reports, insisting that its missiles have been developed locally.

PTI