Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS STATEMENT
11 May 1998
As announced by the Prime Minister this afternoon, today 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. Measurement
have also confirmed that there was no release of radioactivity into the
atmosphere. These were contained explosions like the experiment conducted
in May 1974.
These tests have established that India has a proven capability for a
weaponised nuclear programme. They also provide a valuable database which
is useful in the design of nuclear weapons of different yields for
different applications and for different delivery systems. Further, they
are expected to carry Indian scientists towards a sound computer simulation
capability which may be supported by sub-critical experiments, if
considered necessary.
The Government is deeply concerned, as were previous Governments, about the
nuclear environment in India's neighbourhood. These tests provide
reassurance to the people of India 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 the 50th
year of our independence.
It is necessary to highlight today that India was in the vanguard of
nations which ushered in the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963 due to
environmental concerns. Indian representatives have worked in various
international forums, including the Conference on Disarmament for
universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable arrangements for the
elimination of weapons of mass destruction. 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.'
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. It would necessarily be an evolutionary
process from concept to commitment and would depend on a number of
reciprocal activities.
We would like to reaffirm categorically that we will continue to exercise
the most stringent control on the export of sensitive technologies,
equipment and commodities - especially those related to weapons of mass
destruction. Our track record has been impeccable in this regard.
Therefore we expect recognition of our responsible policy by the
international community.
India remains committed to a speedy process of nuclear disarmament leading
to total and global elimination of nuclear weapons. Our adherence to the
Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention is
evidence of our commitment to any global disarmament regime which is
non-discriminatory and verifiable. We shall also be happy to participate
in the negotiations for the conclusion of a fissile material cut-off treaty
in the Geneva based Conference on Disarmament.
In our neighbourhood we have many friends with whom relations of fruitful
cooperation for mutual benefit have existed and deepened over a long
period. We assure them that it will be our sincere endeavour to intensify
and diversify those relations further for the benefit of all our peoples.
For India, as for others, the prime need is for peaceful cooperation and
economic development.
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