[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
India conducts Nuclear Tests....
Hello Folks,
What do we have to say abou this nuclear test conducted
by India Today. Personally, I am very proud of it. But,
something that needs to be thought of, is the consequence
of such a test in the Internaltion arena.
This will now definitely give Pakistan a "Reason" to
promote its nuclear programme. This may results in the UN/US
imposing Sanctions on India, and how would this affect the
Indian Economy. What do we do about these type of situations.
Parag.
-----------------------------Included Message --------------
[Image]
Top Stories
Tuesday, May 12, 1998
NEWS ---------------------------------------------
UPDATE
SERVICE * India explodes three nuclear devices at
Pokhran
Top Stories * U.S. disappointed, sanctions likely
Editorial
Front Page ---------------------------------------------
Tamil Nadu
States India explodes three nuclear devices at
National Pokhran
International
Business Date: 12-05-1998 :: Pg: 01 :: Col: a
Sports
General Cl: Front Page News
Religion
NEW DELHI, May 11.
The Hindu
Index India today successfully conducted three
underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran
range in Rajasthan, 24 years after the nation
had conducted the first such test.
The dramatic announcement about the three
tests, conducted at 1545 hours, was made by
the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee,
at a hurriedly-convened press conference at
his residence here.
Mr. Vajpayee, who declined to answer any
questions after reading out his 10-line
statement, said the tests had been conducted
with a ``fission device, a low-yield device
and a thermonuclear device.''
The measured yields from the tests ``are in
line with the expected values,'' the Prime
Minister said.Mr. Vajpayee said measurements
had also confirmed that there was no release
of radioactivity into the atmosphere.
He said the three tests were contained
explosions like the experiment conducted in
May 1974.
The Prime Minister warmly congratulated the
scientists and engineers who carried out
these successful tests.
After reading out the statement, he said he
would not be replying to any questions on the
subject and added the official spokesman
would brief the press later.
Later an official statement said India
remained committed to a speedy process of
nuclear disarmament leading to total and
global elimination of nuclear weapons.
The statement said India would be prepared to
consider being an adherent to some of the
undertakings in the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty but ``this cannot obviously be done in
a vacuum.''
``We would like to reaffirm categoricaly that
we will continue to exercise the most
stringent control on the export of sensitive
technologies, equipment and commodities -
specialy those related to weapons of mass
destruction,'' the statement said.
The Government would like to reiterate its
support to efforts to realise the goal of a
truly comprehensive international arrangement
which would prohibit underground nuclear
testing of all weapons as well as related
experiments described as sub- critical or
hydronuclear, it said.The statement was read
out by Mr. Brajesh Mishra, Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister, at a special
briefing here.
The statement said these tests had
established that India had proven capability
for a weaponised nuclear programme.
They also provided a valuable database for
design of nuclear weapons of different yields
for different applications and different
delivery systems, it said.
``These tests provide reassurance to the
people of the country that their national
security interests are paramount and will be
promoted and protected. Succeeding
generations of Indians would also rest
assured that contemporary technologies
associated with nuclear option have been
passed on to them in this 50th year of
Independence,'' the statement said.
It said the tests were expected to carry
Indian scientists towards a sound computer
simulation capability which might be
supported by sub-critical experiments, if
considered necessary.
India, however, assured its neighbours that
it would be its sincere endeavour to
intensify and diversify relations of truthful
cooperation for mutual benefit that had
existed and deepened over a long period.
For India, as for others the prime need was
for peaceful cooperation and economic
development, it said. The statement also said
India would be happy to participate in the
negotiations for the conclusion of a fissile
material cut-off treaty in the Geneva-based
Conference on Disarmament.
`Not against U.S.'
Mr. Mishra clarified that the tests were not
directed against the United States which had
announced that sanctions might be imposed.
``I hope the U.S would understand that the
tests were meant for the security of the
people of India,'' he said.
Asked what steps the Government had taken to
face the sanctions, Mr. Mishra said their
information was that the U.S had stated that
it was disappointed and they were in touch
with the Indian Government for a full
clarification.
``We did not inform any Government about our
intentions to conduct the tests,'' he said in
reply to a question.
Replying to another question, he said
Government had merely carried out what it had
promised in the national agenda that India
would have a credible nuclear deterrent.
Mr. Mishra said he did not think that this
would affect the relations between India and
the U.S.
Asked whether India could now be known as a
nuclear power, Mr. Mishra said, ``The message
is clear that people have a nuclear
deterrent.''
The Prime Minister had informed the
President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, late last
night about the decision to carry out the
tests .
Mr. Vajpayee, who called on the President
after his return from a state visit to Peru
and Brazil, apprised him of the decision.
The Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, who is
in Cairo to attend the G-15 summit, was also
informed about the decision to carry out the
tests.
Among others who were informed about the
decision were the Home Minister, Mr. L. K.
Advani, the Defence Minister, Mr. George
Fernandes, the three service chiefs and the
Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr. Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat.
The tests, carried out at a depth of 100
metres in the desert, coincided with the
Hindu date of Buddha Poornima when the first
test was conducted in the same area 24 years
ago.
The code name for the last test conducted in
1974 was ''Buddha is smiling''.
Defence experts said the thermonuclear
explosion had placed India next only to the
U.S. and Russia in terms of nuclear
capability, adding that the country was
``left with no other option.''The
international reaction to this would
invariably be condemnatory in nature,
demanding sanctions and imposition of export
controls, they said.
``India was finally compelled to join the
nuclear club because the international
community legitimised nuclear weapons when
they indefinitely extended the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT),'' the former
Director of the Institute for Defence Studies
and Analyses (IDSA), Dr. K. Subrahmanyam,
said.
``It will invariably compel the international
community, especially the five nuclear
powers, to come to terms that elimination of
nuclear weapons by all is a priority and
agreements like NPT and Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty (CTBT) have no relevance,'' Dr.
Sreedhar of IDSA said.
India had conducted the first Underground
test during Indira Gandhi's regime on May 18,
1974, in the Pokhran area.
India, which has been under constant pressure
from the Western powers, particularly the
U.S., has always maintained that its nuclear
programme was for peaceful purposes.
It refused to sign the NPT, saying that it
should be global, non- discriminatory and
comprehensive.
The BJP-led coalition Government in its
national agenda for governance had pledged to
re-evaluate the nuclear policy and exercise
the option to induct nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, British scientists said in London
the tests measured 4.7 on the Richter scale -
the equivalent of a light earthquake.
The British Geological Survey said its
equipmenmt had picked up tremors from the
tests.
``We calculate a measurement of about 4.7 on
the Richter scale at 1013 GMT (1543 IST) near
the India-Pakistan border,'' a spokesman at
the British Geological Survey said.
PM's statement
The following is the text of the announcement
made by the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B.
Vajpayee today on the nuclear tests:
Today at 1545 hrs. India conducted three
underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran
range. The tests conducted today were with a
fission device, a low yield device and a
thermonuclear device. The measured yields are
in line with expected values. Measurements
have also confirmed that there was no release
of radioactivity into the atmosphere. These
were contained explosions like the experiment
conducted in May 1974. I warmly congratulate
the scientists and engineers who have carried
out these successful tests.
| Top of Top Stories | The Hindu Index |
U.S. disappointed, sanctions likely
Date: 12-05-1998 :: Pg: 01 :: Col: e
Cl: Front Page News
By Sridhar Krishnaswami
WASHINGTON, May 11.
The United States today said it was ``deeply
disappointed'' by India's nuclear tests and
belived that they ran counter to an
international campaign to outlaw such
experiments.
``The United States is deeply disappointed by
the decision of the Government of India to
conduct three nuclear tests. This runs
counter to the efforts the international
community is making to promulgate a
comprehensive ban on such testing,'' the
White House spokesman, Mr. Michael McCurry
said.
Mr. McCurry said Washington would take up the
matter with New Delhi.`` We will continue to
spare no effort in encouraging countries to
both promulgate and ratify the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty. If anything, these tests
underscore the importance of that
international regime,'' Mr. McCurry said,
adding the U.S. would contact Pakistan and
urge restraint on the sub-continent.
Mr. McCurry's statement on the subject is the
first of the reactions from the U.S. to the
announcement of the Prime Minister of the
three underground nuclear explosions carried
out at Pokhran earlier in the day.
Asked for comment, a State Department
official told TheHinduthat the administration
was considering what was to be done and the
first task on hand was to go about confirming
the tests. But at least one agency report had
it that the administration might impose
sweeping sanctions against India.
The fuller reaction of the administration
will unfold in the next few days with the
first comprehensive statements coming from
the afternoon briefings at the White House
and at the State Department later during the
day. But the initial impression is that the
administration has not really much of a
choice on the subject of sanctions which are
automatic and come into effect almost
immediately.
Under American domestic laws, sanctions will
not be imposed if the President determines
and certifies in writing to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of
Representatives that the application of such
sanctions would have a serious and adverse
effect on the vital interests of the U.S.
The view here is that the American sanctions
law as applicable under the circumstances is
sweeping and there is no distinction that is
made on the type of detonation that has been
undertaken. The sanctions referred to under
the laws are as follows: first, the U.S. will
terminate assistance to the country under
question under the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 with the exception of humanitarian,food
or other agricultural products assistance.
Second, the U.S. shall terminate sales of any
defence articles, defence services or design
and construction services as also terminate
the licences for export for any item on the
munitions List; third, there will be the
termination of all foreign military
financing; fourth, the U.S. will deny credit,
credit guarantees or other financial
assistance by any department or agency of the
U.S. Government. Of course, there are
exceptions in this category as it pertains,
for instance, to humanitarian assistance or
to the Congressional oversight of
intelligence activities.
Fifth, in accordance with the International
Financial Institutions Act, the U.S. shall
oppose the extension of any loan,financial or
technical assistance by any international
financial institution that would include the
World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund. And sixth, it is put across that the
U.S. government will prohibit any of its
banks from making any loan or credits to the
country in question except for that of
purchasing food or agricultural commodities.
``This is a gigantic mistake on the part of
India,'' said Mr. Gary Milhollin of the
Wisconsin Project. In a conversation with
TheHindu, Mr. Milhollin argued that the
conduct of nuclear tests by India would not
only cut off or sever the flow of high- tech
from the U.S., but also put India in a
special category, or the ``unsavoury'' list
in world opinion and all this without any
benefit to India's security.
PTI, AFP report:
China's official news agency Xinhua reported
the nuclear tests, but without any comment.
No official reaction could be obtained from
China since the news reached Beijing well
after office hours.
In the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, a Foreign
Minister spokesman said Bangladesh was
following the developments. | Top of Top
Stories | The Hindu Index |
---------------------------------------------
| Top Stories | Editorial | Front Page |
Tamil Nadu | States | National |
International | Business | Sports | General |
Religion
| The Hindu Index |
---------------------------------------------
Copyrights © 1998 The Hindu & Tribeca
Internet Initiatives Inc.
Republication or redissemination of the
contents of this screen are expressly
prohibited without the written consent of The
Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.
Back to the Indiaserver Homepage
Copyright © 1998, Tribeca Internet
Initiatives Inc. All rights reserved
worldwide. Indiaserver is a trademark of
Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.