International anti-proliferation experts held their first-ever talks with Pakistan officials on Monday.

Islamabad, meanwhile, made it clear it would not sign the NPT [Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons] without being recognised as a nuclear state.

External links: What is the NPT?

"Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state and Pakistan cannot sign the NPT as a non nuclear member state," Foreign office Spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said.

He said visiting Nuclear Suppliers Group Chairman Richard Ekwall and incoming Chairman Roant Naess met Additional Foreign Secretary Tariq Usman Hyder and held "extremely fruitful discussion".

This is the first time the NSG is holding talks with Pakistan officials after nuclear scientist A Q Khan's admissions that Pakistan sold nuclear centrifuges to Iran.

Khan is currently under house arrest. "The visit afforded the opportunity to explain steps Pakistan has taken for the establishment of export control regime and sensitive material and technology, consistent with Pakistan's strong commitment to nuclear non-proliferation," Jilani said.