Dr AQ Khan says he admitted selling N-tech under Musharraf's pressure

Paris, May 31 : Pakistan's father of nuclear programme Dr AQ Khan is learnt to have withdrawn his admission of supplying nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya, saying that he had made it under pressure from President Pervez Musharraf.

Dr Khan had in 2004 confessed to selling nuclear technology to other countries. But, in an interview with British daily The Guardian yesterday, he revealed that he had made the confession under pressure from Musharraf.

"It was not of my own free will. It was handed into my hand," The Guardian quoted him as saying.

Western intelligence agencies fear that any nuclear technology passed on by Dr. Khan could be used by terrorists.

He reiterated his longstanding resistance to being questioned by investigators from the International Atomic Energy Agency or the United States. "Why should I talk to them? I am under no obligation. I have not violated international laws," he added, calling his nuclear secrets his "internal affair and my country's affair".

He further said that Pakistan was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

Since 2004, Khan had been confined under house arrest to a villa in Islamabad. Initially, he lived under tight controls, with soldiers at his gate, Internet access denied and his telephone monitored. But, he hinted on Friday that he was hoping that the restrictions would be eased.

ANI