Wednesday, March 30 2005 09:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (Mar 29, 2005) said that the US decision to provide F-16 fighter jets to it had nothing to do with Islamabad agreeing to send its nuclear centrifuges to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for inspection to determine linkages with Iran's nuclear programme.

The sale of F-16s has nothing to do with the "possible dispatch" of parts of centrifuges to Vienna, the headquarters of IAEA, state run APP reported Kasuri as saying at a media conference in Karachi yesterday.

"This has got nothing to do with the supply of F-16s nor handing over parts of used centrifuges to IAEA will have any impact on Pakistan's nuclear programme," he said.

He was responding to questions about timing of the US decision to sell F-16s to Pakistan, which followed the announcement by President Gen Pervez Musharraf that Islamabad was considering sending parts of centrifuges for inspection by IAEA.

"As regards the possible dispatch of parts of centrifuges to Vienna for inspection, we may send old and useless parts of outdated centrifuges to Vienna and we hope the controversy will end after their inspection," Kasuri said adding that Pakistan wants to be transparent in this controversy.

He also said Pakistan would not permit a third country, namely United States to use Pakistan territory to act against Iran.

"Our relations with Iran are growing as seen by the recent visit of the Prime Minister (to Iran) on February 22-25, 2005 during which a number of agreements in the economic and trading field were signed," he said.