Thursday, July 21 2005 20:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Osama bin Laden, high on the global wanted list, and the al Qaeda have a strong base in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has indicated.

"I think there is no doubt about that," Singh said in an interview to CNN on being asked whether in his opinion Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda still have a significant base in Pakistan.

Asked where, he said the al Qaeda elements were "quite active" in the tribal belt of the Northwest Frontier province. And also, the whole infrastructure of the madrasas in Pakistan, the belief that these can shift away from the teaching of fundamentalism to more modern discipline, has not materialised, he said.

The Prime Minister said jehadi elements have taken advantage of these religious seminaries and schools in Pakistan and "they can take greater advantage of that phenomenon in the years to come".

Singh dismissed as "grossly overstated" the possibility of a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan. "Both our countries are nuclear powers. And, as far as we are concerned, we have an impeccable record of not in any way contributing to proliferation of these nuclear technologies," he said.

To another question, Singh said he took pride in the fact that although India has 150 million Muslims in the country, "Not one has been found to have joined the ranks of al Qaeda or participated in the activities of the Taliban".

Asked whether he trusts President Pervez Musharraf, Singh said, "I do trust. But I think there is an old saying of President (Ronald) Reagan. Trust and verify."

Singh said he had held two important meetings with Musharraf. "He and I have both have committed our two countries to make the peace process between Indian and Pakistan irreversible".

The Prime Minister sought to remind Musharraf to honour promises made by him on stopping terrorism. "I sincerely hope that the commitments that Pakistan has made, that the territory of Pakistan will not be allowed to be used for planning terrorist acts against India, that commitment is honoured in letter and in spirit".

New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan has not done much in dismantling terrorist infrastructure in that country. "And, we have some worries on that score that the infrastructure of terror is largely intact in Pakistan," he said.

Singh also made it clear that India was not against the US having good relations with Pakistan. "A strong, stable and prosperous Pakistan is in our interests. If Pakistan admits the jihadi elements are under control, it is in our interests," he said.

He hoped the US influence could be exercised to ensure that the commitments that Pakistan has made are kept.

On the issue of outsourcing, he said, "It is not one-way street. Indian enterprises benefit, but so do the US enterprises".