Hertzliya (Israel): Indian security experts have called upon the US not to "shy away" from asking Pakistan to account for nuclear material its scientists supplied to other countries, warning that even a small amount of fissile material could equip terrorists with a "dirty bomb".

Speaking at the second trilateral Indo-US-Israel conference jointly organised by Washington-based think tank Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), Vice Admiral K K Nayyar said the US should ask Pakistan to account for the fissile material to check proliferation.

"You have the wherewithal and must accept the responsibility to do it ... it can be done and must be done," he said yesterday (Feb 17, 2004).

Lt Gen R K Sawhney, who served as Director General of Military Intelligence, expressed regret that the US did not support Indian efforts towards checking infiltration and gathering intelligence on the al-Qaeda before the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US.

In an oblique reference to Pakistan, he asked the US to take the lead and persuade "its partners to track down the leaders of terror groups.

"Intelligence is camouflaged but the whereabouts of the al-Qaeda leaders are not totally unknown to your partners in fight against terror," he said.