Friday, March 25 2005 13:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Seeking to put at rest to the controversy over the origin of nuclear centrifuges in Iran, Pakistan is considering sending its nuclear centrifuges to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to determine the prototypes of the same being used by Tehran.

"To end the issue once and for all we want to send nuclear centrifuges to Vienna for inspection and the matter is under consideration," Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was quoted as saying to a newly-launched Pakistan TV channel Aaj.

He said that the controversy on the alleged transfer of nuclear centrifuges would end for good after inspection of nuclear centrifuges in Vienna.

IAEA got suspicious about the origin of nuclear centrifuges in Iran during its proliferation probe and revelation that Pakistan nuclear scientist A Q Khan supplied centrifuges to Tehran.

The issue was recently in the news following assertions by Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed that Pakistan's nuclear scientist has supplied the centrifuges to Iran, which drew sharp criticism at home.

His comments followed reports from Vienna quoting IAEA officials that Pakistan would send its centrifuges for inspection. The reports were denied by Pakistan Foreign Office.

Musharraf said that the Government took action against Khan for what he had done in the past. "Now he has neither any relevance to any network nor any country. Network of only one person was in Pakistan, which now stood dismantled."

He said that Khan is not in contact with anyone. "I guarantee that."

Dispelling the impression that any nuclear proliferation had taken place from Pakistan, he said that the focus of investigations was about finding out those involved in proliferation to Iran.

Musharraf also said that the country's nuclear installations were fully secure and no external force was pressuring Pakistan in this regard. "Pakistan had recently successfully test-fired Shaheen-II missile and another successful test would be conducted next month."

"We are developing our missile technology and we are moving forward," he said adding, "It is simply not possible that our strategic assets fall into the hands of extremist forces."