Lahore, Feb. 10 : Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has warned that the country will face more international pressure following the release of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

A private TV channel also quoted Musharraf as saying that he had tried to bring Pakistan and Israel closer during his rule.

He said India would have to pay a heavy price if it attacked nuclear-armed Pakistan, adding that any surgical strikes by India would be responded to appropriately.

Earlier, Musharraf said that he had made all his decisions, including the case of keeping Dr. A Q Khan under house arrest, keeping national interests in mind.

US State Department's deputy spokesman Robert Wood had said that Washington believed that Khan could once again start his nefarious network and indulge in illegal trade of nuclear techniques.

"We believe he remains a potential proliferation risk. We're going to do what we can to try to make sure that the types of activities that have been undertaken in the past don't continue. We're in a dialogue with the Pakistani government about A. Q. Khan, and we remain concerned about the potential that he is for further proliferation," he added. (ANI)