Speaking at an Ambassadors Roundtable Series hosted by the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University, Husain Haqqani argued: "First of all, let us understand one thing -- a Pakistani court had ordered the release of Dr Khan. That does not mean that Dr Khan goes from house arrest and takes over the Pakistani nuclear programme again."

"So, therefore, we should not make connections that are not relevant. Dr Khan's past role has already been addressed," he said, adding, "The complaints about outward proliferation from Pakistan have been addressed."

Haqqani told the audience that included State Department, Pentagon [Images], Department of Homeland Security, intelligence, and senior Congressional aides, that "Pakistan has shared a lot of knowledge on the so-called A Q Khan network with the international community, and most people know that it has now been disabled and is no longer engaged in the trade of nuclear material."

"Should anyone remain in detention forever?" he asked.

"The decision on Dr Khan's fate has been taken by a court and not by the executive branch of the government."

State Department spokesman Robert Wood had on Tuesday disclosed that Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg had met with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend "and expressed very clearly and straightforwardly our concern about the court decision."

Wood said Steinberg had "also sought assurances from the Pakistani government that Khan would not continue to be a proliferation risk. And, so, the Pakistanis clearly understand where we are coming from on this issue."