Pakistan's disgraced scientist A Q Khan has claimed that all six nuclear powers, including India and the United States, had developed their atomic programme secretly with borrowed or smuggled technology.

He also blamed the top leadership of Pakistan for being too 'weak' to defend its nuclear programme and allowing western countries to malign the nation.

Khan, under house arrest for the last four years after admitting to selling atomic secrets to North Korea, Libya and Iran, said the nuclear capability of the US, the UK, France [Images], India, Russia [Images] and China were developed secretly with borrowed technology and even through smuggling of technology, designs and human skills.

'We have not done anything different than these six nuclear powers of today did, to attain nuclear capabilities. Why then we are being discriminated, when we bought all the supplies from these western companies and followed the same strategy to achieve the same nuclear capability like these six nuclear nations,' he asked during an interview with The News.

'We have been as responsible a nation as they are.'

Without naming Pakistan President Musharraf, Khan accused the 'weak national leadership' of the past eight years for allowing and accepting pressures from the western governments on the Pakistani programme.

'Despite all temptations, offers, pressure and warnings Nawaz Sharif did the nuclear test. It is our weak national leadership that bowed to western pressures and allowed them to target and scandalise our nuclear programme,' Khan said.

'When the national leadership of a country is weak, others avail the opportunity. That is what has happened to us,' Khan said.

'Some Pakistanis were actively supporting the foreign agenda to denuclearise Pakistan and such Pakistanis are found in all walks of life holding influential positions. Such people speak against our nuclear capabilities. They ignore the situation in our region and overlook the designs and nuclear power of our neighbour.

'They keep saying that nuclearisation is not in favour of Pakistan. These elements are foreign agents and advocate their masters' agenda. They are found in all walks of life in

Pakistan. Traitors are in every nation and every country. We need to be on guard,' he said.

However, Khan refused to comment on Pakistan's nuclear assets and their safety and security.

'I am under detention for the last four-and-a-half years with no access to any such information. I have been cut off from the outside world. How can I say anything on the current status and such issues? The new Pakistani government should investigate and assure the Pakistani nation about the current status as well as its capability and readiness to safeguard the national interests,' he said.

Khan denied that he owned 42 properties in Islamabad or stacked money in Iran and elsewhere in his personal accounts.

'I am willing to give you a legal power of attorney to investigate and find all my properties. Whatever properties you find in Pakistan or elsewhere, I will authorise you to take 50 per cent and give 50 per cent to the Pakistan government,' Khan said.