DATE=5/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232002
TITLE=INDIA NUCLEAR (S)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIAN PRIME MINISTER, ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA
CONDUCTED THREE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TESTS MONDAY. V-O-A NEW
DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS THE STORY.
TEXT: MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS THE TESTS WERE CONDUCTED IN THE WESTERN
STATE OF RAJASTHAN USING WHAT HE CALLED, A FISSION DEVICE, A
LOW-YIELD DEVICE, AND A THERMO-NUCLEAR DEVICE. HE SAYS THERE WAS
NO RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVITY IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
MR. VAJPAYEE'S HINDU NATIONALIST PARTY, THE B-J-P, HAS LONG SAID
IT PLANNED TO INTRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AFTER COMING TO POWER
THIS YEAR THE PARTY SAID IT WOULD KEEP THE NUCLEAR OPTION OPEN.
INDIA CARRIED OUT ITS FIRST NUCLEAR EXPLOSION IN 1974. NEW DELHI
HAS LONG SAID ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES, BUT
IT HAS NOT SIGNED TO THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY.
DEFENSE ANALYSTS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
IN SOUTH ASIA. PAKISTAN, WITH WHOM INDIA HAS FOUGHT THREE WARS,
RECENTLY TESTED A NEW MISSILE. PAKISTAN SAYS IT HAS THE
COMPONENTS OF A NUCLEAR DEVICE BUT HAS MADE A POLICY DECISION
NOT TO ASSEMBLE ONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/LTD/MMK
11-May-98 9:22 AM EDT (1322 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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