Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Thursday that sending centrifuges to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would not have any negative impact on national security.

Jilani confirmed to the local Geo TV channel that Islamabad has sent samples of centrifuges to the IAEA.

"Pakistan has only sent used and old centrifuges to the IAEA under some conditions and guidelines. This action is part of our cooperation with the IAEA to curb nuclear proliferation," Jilani said.

He said that Pakistani experts themselves gave the centrifuges to IAEA and they would also be present during the inspection.

"Pakistani experts would bring back the centrifuges after the completion of inspection," Jilani said.

IAEA Spokesman Mark Gwozdecky was quoted on Thursday by the BBC Urdu-language service as saying that the centrifuges were sent to the IAEA headquarters in Vienna on Tuesday.

He also confirmed that a Pakistani delegation held talks with IAEA officials on Wednesday.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said last month that Pakistan wants to send parts of centrifuges for the IAEA inspection to remove suspicions and doubts that Islamabad provided centrifuges to Iran and other countries.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)