Nuclear experts meet Pak officials amid black market worry

Pakistan has been under a strict embargo by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which includes the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia and other key atomic powers, since testing its first nuclear warhead in 1998.

The South Asian nation has said it wants to join the 44-nation grouping despite a continuing probe into the activities of scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. He has admitted giving nuclear technology to North Korea, Iran and Libya.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group team met Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, the top civil servant in the foreign office, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

They also held talks with other officials including additional secretary Tariq Usman Haider. "The meeting with Haider, who deals with nuclear-related matters, lasted about an hour," the official said.

More talks may be held tomorrow, officials said.

Islamabad's bid to join the group is likely to face major difficulties because Pakistan is not a party to the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nor is its rival India or suspected nuclear-armed power Israel.