Saudis deny reports they seek nukes from Pakistan

LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia denied on Thursday that it is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan.

"Saudi Arabia is a signatory of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty and is committed to its international pledges," Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz told the London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat daily.

The minister said the kingdom was not looking for nuclear weapons from Pakistan or any other country. Sultan said the kingdom wanted to see the region free of all types of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.

Western officials have expressed concern that Saudi Arabia might be seeking to acquire weapons from Pakistan after Prince Sultan toured the Kahuta plant with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in early May. They said Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, might have agreed to finance Pakistan's nuclear efforts and might try to buy missiles and nuclear know-how for itself.

Prince Sultan said his visit to Pakistan's Kahuta uranium enrichment plant and missile factory did not "exceed the first entrances of the site and did not include secret facilities as was reported. We are proud that our relations with Pakistan are always friendly and strong and they should not be interpreted as something else."