Islamabad, Jan. 14 : A day after the US State Department imposed sanctions on disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist, A. Q. Khan, he has categorically denied ever having met al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

He said that the media reports about his contact were baseless, and a part of propaganda of the `western media'.

"I had no direct or indirect contact with Osama Bin Laden and suggestions to that effect were baseless propaganda by the western media," the Daily Times quoted Khan, as saying.

Khan also said that Pakistan''s nuclear assets were in safe hands.

Earlier, the US State Department issued names of A. Q. Khan and 12 other individuals, and asked the international community to "remain vigilant" to ensure that the network did not resume nuclear weapon proliferation activities.

A. Q. Khan has been charged with providing nuclear equipment and know-how to other countries in an illegal way. (ANI)