"The government of Pakistan was not involved in any kind of proliferation activities. We value those assurances and (President Pervez Musharraf's) actions since he made those assurances demonstrate his commitment to the issue of proliferation," the spokesman said as US President George W. Bush paid a visit to Charleston, South Carolina.

Musharraf on Thursday pardoned the disgraced architect of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, who made a dramatic, televised confession that he had leaked technology abroad.

Khan on Wednesday admitted leaking secrets and begged for forgiveness following a lengthy investigation into the alleged transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

But Musharraf, dressed in his military commando uniform, called the scientist a "national hero" for bringing the bomb to Pakistan, seen as a vital part of the country's defences against India.

"As is evident, this investigation demonstrates his commitment to confronting the issue of proliferation," McClellan added.

WAR.WIRE