Pakistan is defending its decision to free a scientist who admitted toselling nuclear secrets, amid criticism from the United States andIndia.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry says Saturday Abdul QadeerKhan is no longer a threat because his smuggling network has beendismantled, and controls are in place to make sure there are no moreleaks of secret information.
U.S. officials called Khan'srelease "unfortunate" and "regrettable," demanding assurances that Khancan no longer pose any danger.
India says the internationalcommunity should consider declaring Pakistan a terrorist state. ManishTewari, a spokesman for the ruling Congress party says defending Khanproves Pakistan exports terrorism, and also gives rise to concerns ofcountries such as the U.S. that nuclear weapons could reach terrorists.
Khanis considered the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb but admitted toleaking nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea in 2004.
Pakistan'sHigh Court freed the 72-year-old Khan Friday, after five years of housearrest. The court said Khan will still be subject to some securitymeasures.
Separately, India's army chief said today theterrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is, as he put it, "existing andactive." General Deepak Kapor says the number of militant camps inPakistan has been on the rise.
Many Pakistanis see Khan as a hero despite worldwide condemnation after his international nuclear deals were exposed.
Khantold reporters outside his Islamabad home he will not cooperate withforeign investigations into his nuclear proliferation network.