Friday, October 28 2005 18:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Pakistan continues to cooperate both with the United States (US) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the extensiveness of its disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan's network, especially on what may have been passed on to Iran, the US State Department said.

"Our concerns about the A Q Khan network are well-known. We are working very closely with the Pakistani Government to dig into all of the activities of the A Q Khan network," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters when asked if the US has had any direct contacts with Khan and what and how much he may have given to Tehran.

"This is a widespread network that was providing nuclear weapons technology and know-how to a variety of different states." The spokesman said, "I think the IAEA is looking into this matter, exactly what A Q Khan might have provided to Iran. And we are looking to Iran to provide, to come clean on these issues and provide the information to IAEA investigators, so all of these questions can be cleared up." Asked specifically what Khan has been telling authorities in Pakistan and what Islamabad is conveying to the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency, McCormack said, "We are working closely with Pakistan on these questions and I understand that IAEA authorities are working closely with the Pakistani Government."

"We certainly encourage their continuing cooperation as this is a matter of intense international interest and so we look forward to that continuing cooperation."