ISLAMABAD, March 24: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said Pakistan was considering to send parts of nuclear centrifuges to Vienna for inspection. “To end the issue once and for all we want to send nuclear centrifuges to Vienna for inspection and the matter is under consideration,” said President Musharraf in an interview to newly- launched Aaj TV channel. President Musharraf dilated on the strategy for allaying International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suspicions that nuclear centrifuges had allegedly been transferred to some countries, including Iran, from Pakistan.

The controversy on the alleged transfer of nuclear centrifuges would end for good after inspection of nuclear centrifuges in Vienna, the president added.

The president said that during the nuclear proliferation probe in Iran, IAEA got suspicious about how and from where Iran had got nuclear centrifuges. The president said that this revelation added new dimensions to the probe against Dr A. Q. Khan’s black market network.

In reply to a question about Dr Khan, Gen Musharraf said the government took action against the scientist for what he had done in the past. Now he has neither any relevance to any network nor any country. Network of only one person was in Pakistan which now stood dismantled, he said.

President dispelled impression that any nuclear proliferation had taken place from Pakistan and said the focus of investigations was about finding out those involved in proliferation to Iran.

Gen Musharraf reiterated that the country’s nuclear installations were fully secure, adding that no external force was pressurising Pakistan in this regard.

He said Pakistan had recently successfully test-fired Shaheen-II missile and another successful test would be conducted next month.

On the Balochistan issue, the president reiterated that doors were always open for talks. However, he warned that the government would pay back in the same coin if its writ was challenged in Balochistan.

He said an East Pakistan-like situation could not be created in Balochistan. The population of Balochistan was very thin. Only 3 out of 78 tribal chiefs in Balochistan were creating mayhem and the rest of the tribal chiefs were supporting government’s initiatives.

“These three tribal chiefs want that every government flatters them, however, I will not bow before them,” he said.

The system of tribal warlords was continuing in Balochistan. These tribal chiefs had started setting up their posts. They had now started intercepting FC contingents. FC IG had informed me about the situation, he said.

President indicated that men of the tribal chiefs had now started firing from across the mountains. The FC personnel were not cowards. They responded to the firing which resulted into killings. Reports have also come that fire also came from the house of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Gen Musharraf made it clear that he was supportive of talks at political level. Parliamentary committee was working under Chaudhry Shujaat in this respect, he said. “I am also supportive of recommendations presented for settlement of Balochistan issue,” he maintained.

He said it seemed as if the elements involved in acts of sabotage were being funded from outside the country. The possession of large quantity of weapons by them left the question from where they got money to purchase them even if it was assumed that weapons were available in the market, he said.

To a question on the mysterious activities of Indian consulate in the area, he said that Pakistan would take serious note if any evidence was made available on the involvement of Indian agencies in our internal affairs.

On the uniform issue, Gen Musharraf said that he would decide about doffing uniform in 2007. He said PPP-P Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would also not be able to take part in 2007 election. No monarchy of any party would be allowed to work in democracy and all the parties would have to face the reality.

Gen Musharraf said that MMA had no bright future in the country as it was a divided party. Several leaders including Maulana Sami ul Haq had expressed their disengagement with the million marches, he said. He said the government had to face severe criticism despite successful operations in South Waziristan and elimination of terrorism from the country.

The controversial anti-army statements given by certain parties indicated as if they were with terrorists rather than Pakistan. If this state of affairs continued in future, US and European countries would not do any business in Pakistan, he said.

We will have to boost economic relations with US, European countries and developed countries for the development of the country, he said.

On extremism, he said that religious parties including MMA were not extremist parties. The leadership of these parties send their children to foreign countries for education and it was strange to note that they go for chanting slogans and staging demonstrations against these countries when the question of development of country arose.

On Kashmir issue, he said that Indian government had shown flexibility on Kashmir issue. Both the countries had demonstrated full flexibility in commencement of Muzaffarabad- Srinagar bus service. I will talk to Indian leadership on my option with reference to Kashmir issue during my visit to India next month. I will want Indian government stance for the resolution of Kashmir issue as the peace would remain elusive without the resolution of Kashmir issue, he added.