Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday dismissed as "baseless and preposterous" disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan's contention that North Korea paid millions of dollars to two Pakistani generals for clandestine transfers of atomic technology.
"Such stories have a habit of reoccurring and my only comment is that this is totally baseless and preposterous," Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua told a weekly press briefing.
The Washington Post reported that Khan had released a letter from a North Korean official dating back to 1998 that gave details of the payment of three million dollars to then Pakistan Army chief, Gen Jehangir Karamat.
The letter said half a million dollars and some jewellery was paid to retired lieutenant general Zulfiqar Khan.
The two generals too denied the allegations. There was no word from the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan government has earlier said that the clandestine transfer of nuclear technology and know-how by a proliferation ring led by Khan is a "closed chapter".
Pakistan has also turned down numerous requests from the US for investigators to be given access to Khan.
Khan has admitted giving centrifuges and drawings that helped North Korea begin making a uranium-based bomb.
After he confessed to running a proliferation network in early 2004, Khan was placed under house arrest. The restrictions were eased about two years ago by the current government.
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