Straw confident Pakistan can handle nuke inquiry

Straw said he also supports a diplomatic solution to a standoff between Iran and the United States over its uranium enrichment programme. Iran was one of three countries to which Khan admitted passing nuclear technology.

"I have not directly raised the matter with the Pakistanis but we have very substantial confidence in President Musharraf and the Pakistani government about the way in which they are dealing with the issue in the aftermath of Dr Khan," he told a news conference in Islamabad.

Straw was speaking after meeting Pakistan's military ruler President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his counterpart Khurshid Kasuri on the first day of a week-long tour of South Asia.