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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


September 1998 India
Special Weapons News

  • CLINTON / INDIA-PAKISTAN Voice of America 30 September 1998 -- THE WHITE HOUSE -- EXPRESSING CONCERNS OVER RECENT NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN -- HAS CONFIRMED THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL NOT BE TRAVELING TO EITHER COUNTRY THIS YEAR.
  • White House Briefing September 30, 1998 -- The President has decided to postpone his visit to India and Pakistan, which had been under review. Until more progress is achieved, we are not going to be able to lift the sanctions that are in place and we aren't in a position to strengthen the kind of bilateral ties with both governments that we would naturally want to make a featured element of any trip by the President to the region.
  • CTBT stance augurs well for Atal's France visit The Hindustan Times 28 September 1998 - The movement forward on India's stance on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is likely to create a propitious context for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to France beginning this Tuesday.
  • Annan bid to put psychological pressure on India, Pakistan The Hindustan Times 27 September 1998 - There appears to be a global conspiracy of evasion with regard to readiness of India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  • World wants India, Pak to do more The Hindustan Times 26 September 1998 - Now that both India and Pakistan have signalled their readiness to sign the international treaty to ban all nuclear tests, the international community would expect them to follow suit with several other steps.
  • US sets tough conditions for lifting sanctions Redif On The NeT 26 September 1998 -- Adherence to nuclear norms and settlement of problems with Pakistan are among Washington's demands.
  • Senators appeal for flexible sanction laws Redif On The NeT 26 September 1998 -- The group led by Frank Pallone has called upon a key congressional panel to support a measure authorising President Bill Clinton to waive the sanctions imposed on India after its nuclear tests.
  • Big 5 abstain from voting on IAEA resolution Redif On The NeT 26 September 1998 -- Forty-four countries voted for the resolution and two against while 43 abstained.
  • India won't start arms race, promises PM Redif On The NeT 26 September 1998 -- Vajpayee assured United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan of India's commitment to normalise relations with Pakistan.
  • Pakistan looking forward to talks with India Redif On The NeT 26 September 1998 -- Pakistan looks forward to ''a sustained dialogue and real progress'' with India when their senior officials resume a suspended dialogue next month, its foreign ministry spokesman said in Islamabad.
  • P-5 urge India, Pakistan to move closer Redif On The NeT 25 September 1998 -- In a repetition of their joint communique of June 4, the Big Five expressed continued concern at the danger posed by the nuclear tests to peace and security in the subcontinent.
  • US welcomes India, Pak moves to sign CTBT Redif On The NeT 25 September 1998 -- Talking to newsmen in New York, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said both countries had taken some positive steps to end the nuclear arms race in the region, "but there is a long way to go" before sanctions can be lifted.
  • 'India still does not have sufficient data from its nuclear tests' Redif On The NeT 25 September 1998 -- 'With all due respect to Abdul Kalam, he is not a nuclear scientist. He is a missile man, a rocket scientist. There is a great difference between a rocket scientist and a nuclear one.
  • India ready to sign CTBT The Hindustan Times 25 September 1998 - Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee assured the international community today that India was prepared to sign the CTBT.
  • Daily News September 25, 1998 -- India has expressed its readiness to bring the discussions on its signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, CTBT, to a successful conclusion by September next year. In his address to the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that other countries will also adhere to the Treaty without conditions.
  • U.S. technology in return for n-restraint mooted The Hindu: 25-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 :: Dr. Richard Haass, who has co-authored a report with Dr. Morton H. Halperin on `U.S. policy towards India and Pakistan after their nuclear tests', said that Washington could ``supply technology'' and assist ``nuclear power facilities'' in return for concrete assurances by New Delhi and Islamabad which discourage proliferation and a nuclear conflict between them.
  • INDIA-PAK TALKS Voice of America 24 September 1998 -- A FORMER INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS PRAISED A MOVE BY PAKISTAN AND INDIA TO RESUME HIGH-LEVEL TALKS.
  • U-S/SOUTH ASIA NUCLEAR Voice of America 24 September 1998 -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS WELCOMED THE STATED WILLINGNESS OF THE LEADERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO SIGN THE NUCLEAT TEST BAN TREATY.
  • INDIA / U-N / NUCLEAR Voice of America 24 September 1998 -- INDIA SAYS IT HOPES TO SIGN THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR -- MEETING A SIMILAR PLEDGE MADE BY PAKISTAN WEDNESDAY.
  • India for global pact on no-first-use of n-weapons The Hindu: 24-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 :: India has mooted a global pact on no-first-use of nuclear weapons and expressed willingness to enter into multilateral negotiations for the purpose. This is besides the offer of bilateral agreements on no-first-use to strengthen the country's unilateral commitment that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. The latest offer is made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in his message to the 42nd general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • Vajpayee makes conditional offer on signing CTBT Redif On The NeT 24 September 1998 -- India on Thursday offered to sign the treaty subject to the success of its ongoing discussions with the US on vital security concerns. Speaking in Hindi, the prime minister said, "We are prepared to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion, so that the entry into force of the CTBT is not delayed beyond September 1999."
  • Exclusive clause in CTBT holding India back Redif On The NeT 24 September 1998 -- Though the statements of Defence Minister George Fernandes and his scientific adviser A P J Abdul Kalam on signing the treaty earlier this week appeared to be contradictory, officials say the differences are more a matter of perception than any real conflict.
  • Given Indo-Pak interests in Kashmir, there is no military solution' Redif On The NeT 24 September 1998 -- Richard N Haass, is director of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institute, a Washington-based think-tank. He has also worked on a paper, After the Tests: US Policy Towards India and Pakistan. In New Delhi to discuss his paper, the former Bush administration national security official took time off to speak to Senior Assistant Editor Amberish K Diwanji.
  • Address of the Prime Minister of India to the 53rd UN General Assembly September 24, 1998 - India is now engaged in discussions with key interlocutors on a range of issues, including the CTBT. We are prepared to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion, so that the entry into force of the CTBT is not delayed beyond September 1999.
  • Text of Joint Statement issued in New York 23 September, 1998
  • India to take a decision soon on the issue of signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Daily News - September 23, 1998 -- The Prime Minister said that by declaring a unilateral moratorium on further nuclear tests, India has already virtually accepted an important aspect of CTBT. Asked whether India would make any commitment at the session on signing the CTBT, Mr. Vajpayee replied in the negative.
  • Fernandes rules out differences with Abdul Kalam over signing CTBT Redif On The NeT 23 September 1998 -- The defence minister, when asked to comment on Bharat Ratna A P J Abdul Kalam's statement that no further nuclear tests were necessary and subscribing to the CTBT would not create difficulties for India's nuclear status, clarified that there was no contradiction whatsoever between them. "He (Dr Kalam) spoke for the scientists and reassured them that they need not worry, but the CTBT is not just the data, a whole lot of issues are there which are being discussed just now,'' the defence minister said.
  • ISRO receives cryogenic engine from Russia Redif On The NeT 23 September 1998 -- ISRO said the cryogenic stage formed the third stage of the GSLV and the unit received on Wednesday was the first of the seven units being supplied by Russia. The remaining units would be delivered at the rate of one every six months. With this, the GSLV launch has been planned for the third quarter of 1999.
  • Threat perception from China being 'ignored' The Hindustan Times 23 September 1998 - Has India pot all the eggs in one basket by talking exclusively to the US on nuclear disarmament?
  • How many nuke bombs can India make? Redif On The NeT 23 September 1998 -- India is capable of producing 455 atomic bombs while Pakistan can build 105, the Jane's Intelligence Review has reported. The earlier estimate was a conservative 65 and 25, respectively.
  • Report: India, Pakistan can make more nuclear weapons than thought (AP) September 23, 1998 -- New information on nuclear reactor performance indicates that India is now capable of producing 455 atomic bombs and Pakistan can build 105 nuclear weapons. The estimates are higher than the current widely accepted view that India can now produce a maximum of 65 bombs while Pakistan can make at most 25 bombs. New information provided by the Canadian Nuclear Association on the performance of Canadian nuclear reactors in India and Pakistan led to the revised projections.
  • Sense and CTBT The Hindustan Times 25 September 1998 - India is now in a position to arm its missiles with multi-purpose warheads capable of fulfilling tactical as well as strategic tasks. Seen in this light, the CTBT no longer has the talismanic quality it had earlier held for the nuclear powers who were guaranteed an immense edge over the nuclear have-nots.
  • Vajpayee for 'matching steps' on CTBT The Hindustan Times 22 September 1998 - Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said "matching steps" by India's interlocutors would help build a consensus in India towards accepting the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
  • INDIA-PAKISTAN Voice of America 22 September 1998 -- THE PRIME MINISTERS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE EXPECTED TO MEET WEDNESDAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IN NEW YORK.
  • INDIA - U-S TALKS Voice of America 21 September 1998 -- SENIOR U-S AND INDIAN OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING AN IMPORTANT ROUND OF TALKS TUESDAY IN WASHINGTON, ON THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
  • Interview of Atomic Energy Commission chairman R Chidambaram by Kalyani Shanker The Hindustan Times 20 September 1998 -- Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R. Chidambaram is in favour of India signing the CTBT purely from the scientific point of view. He is confident about India's nuclear capability and feels that India should not be denied access to superior technology and sanctions imposed by the United States should be lifted.
  • Burton decides not to move anti-India amendments The Hindustan Times 19 September 1998 - Congressman Dan Burton, Indiana Republican and notorious India-basher, was all set yesterday to launch what has come to be his annual legislative onslaught on US aid to India, but unnerved by the phalanx of opposition ranged against him, Burton decided that discretion was the better part of valour and opted not to move his anti-India amendments.
  • BARC scientists defend estimates of n-tests The Hindu 19-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 - In an article published in the journal Current Science on September 10, Dr. S. K. Sikka, Dr. Falguni Roy and Dr. G. J. Nair of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) High Pressure Physics Division have argued that the geographical location of the seismic stations relative to the test site affected their measurements as two large nuclear tests had occurred at the same time.
  • India develops multi-barrel rocket launcher Redif On The NeT 19 September 1998 -- Till recently, only the US, Russia and Brazil used the multi-barrel rocket launcher system technology, intended to provide high-volume firepower. India has now joined the club with Pinaka.
  • PRESS BRIEFING BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER September 18, 1998 -- We have discussed with the Indians, and with the Pakistanis, the steps that we think need to be taken to put them back on track, as I say, more firmly back on track in the nonproliferation regime. I think there has been some movement, but I think so far it's been insufficient.
  • US experts call for easing technology controls on India Redif On The NeT 18 September 1998 -- Their report agrees with the Indian position that a complete rollback to a non-nuclear South Asia is no longer a realistic policy goal without massive strides towards global disarmament.
  • India seeks changes in hi-tech transfer over CTBT The Hindustan Times 17 September 1998 - Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said India was negotiating with key nations the issue of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), especially regarding transfer of high technology, to create conditions for signing it.
  • REPORT URGES INDIA, PAKISTAN TO CAP NUCLEAR CAPABILITY By Rick Marshall USIA 17 September 1998 -- A special report, "After the Tests: US Policy toward India and Pakistan," the sponsored jointly by the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution, calls for both India and Pakistan "to adopt policies that will help stabilize the situation in South Asia by capping their nuclear capabilities at their current levels."
  • INDIA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR Voice of America 17 September 1998 -- A TASK FORCE STUDY WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION AND THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNITED STATES TRY TO GET INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO CAP THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES AND THAT THE PRESIDENT BE ALLOWED TO REDUCE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON BOTH COUNTRIES.
  • PM rules out signing CTBT as it stands Redif On The NeT 16 September 1998 -- Vajpayee said he knew the provisions of the CTBT were not going to be amended, but other arrangements could be made. Among other factors, the country wanted certain issues such as ban on transfer of high technology to be resolved, he said.
  • India, Pak exaggerated claims about N-tests, says seismologist Redif On The NeT 16 September 1998 -- ''This is quite clearly a case where governments tested for a political reason rather than scientific reasons, so we have to be suspicious of what they say,'' said Terry Wallace of the University of Arizona, an expert on the use of seismology to analyse nuclear explosions.
  • India not close to signing CTBT: Mishra The Hindu : 15-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 :: India is willing to ``go forward'' on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) provided the question of its linkage to disarmament is worked out, the Prime Minister's principal secretary, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, said today. "Our security interests have now been taken care of. According to the advice we have from experts and scientists, we don't need any more (nuclear) tests. So we can go forward towards the CTBT."
  • INDIA/SECURITY Voice of America 14 September 1998 -- THE CROSS-BORDER FIRING BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN IN KASHMIR IS ROUTINE -- BUT TENSIONS HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN USUAL IN RECENT MONTHS, RAISING INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.
  • Brajesh Mishra clears misgivings over CTBT Redif On The NeT 14 September 1998 -- The prime minister's principal secretary has set at rest speculation that India is very close to signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and said President Bill Clinton's proposed visit to New Delhi in November is likely to be postponed.
  • Gujral blasts Vajpayee over CTBT Redif On The NeT 14 September 1998 -- The former prime minister assailed the BJP-led government for not taking the Opposition into confidence on the course it planned to take on the controversial Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty issue. ''This is sad because ultimately the strength of Indian democracy emanates from national consensus... It is unfortunate that of late the well-structured consensus mechanism has been fractured,'' he said.
  • Set up apex intelligence agency to protect India against missile strikes: service chiefs Redif On The NeT 11 September 1998 -- Defence sources said the proposal along with the three service chiefs' recent communication to Vajpayee to immediately establish a National Command Authority to handle a possible nuclear war is part of an elaborate security strategy being planned by the armed forces.
  • Nuclear powers have to do something more before India is ready to sign CTBT: PM Redif On The NeT 11 September 1998 -- Vajpayee asserted that the Indian government was upholding the spirit of CTBT through its actions, despite its reservations on signing the treaty.
  • Cong(I) cautions against rushing to sign CTBT The Hindu 09-09-1998 :: Pg: 13 :: The Congress(I) today made it clear that it was against India rushing to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, chairman of the party's panel on External Affairs, stated that India had all along refused to sign it as it felt that this must be tied up with global disarmament, the ban must be comprehensive to cover all kinds of tests, and nuclear weapons States must be able to say clearly how and when they would be ready to get rid of their nuclear arsenals.
  • Vajpayee to call all-party meet over CTBT Redif On The NeT 09 September 1998 -- While the BJP-led coalition government has virtually acknowledged the need for signing the CTBT, the party leadership fears that a hasty decision on the subject could be politically risky and disastrous. The meeting would, therefore, prepare the ground for a national consensus on India signing the controversial treaty.
  • Agni-II to be test-fired soon The Hindu : 05-09-1998 :: Pg: 13 :: India will `soon' test-fire its new longer-range version of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) `Agni', the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has said. ``Test firing of Agni-II is inevitable.... It will be done soon, but no date has yet been finalised,'' Mr. Fernandes said.
  • What if Delhi is nuked? Amberish K Diwanji Redif On The NeT 09 September 1998 -- The military is preparing a nuclear blueprint to ensure a second-strike capability even if India's top leadership is destroyed, by passing on command to the second-rung brass who will then retaliate. While that will ensure revenge, the question is what happens to the country? Who will govern? Will it be the military (and who among them -- what if they breakout into a fight)? In fact, there will be a scramble for power precisely at the time when the country needs calm and great leadership to ensure stability during what will easily be its worst hour.
  • Go slow on CTBT The Hindustan Times 08 September 1998 - The denial by the Prime Minister's principal secretary, Mr Brajesh Mishra, that India was preparing to sign the CTBT, along with the Congress party's negative reaction to any such move made at the party's Pachmarhi conclave, should put an end to any motivated speculation on this score.
  • Prithvi-III test-firing soon The Hindustan Times 07 September 1998 - Prithvi-III is expected to be ready for test-firing as it is being developed at a fast pace. Naval Prithvi will have the distinction of being capable of launch from both a ship or a submarine. Sagarika and Prithvi-III are two different acronyms for the same cruise missile. While initially the ship-launch version would be developed, it would subsequently be upgraded to a submarine-launch variant.
  • The day after Redif On The NeT 07 September 1998 -- In the current political and military framework, there is no institutionalised structure for handling a nuclear crisis. If India's political leadership in New Delhi happens to be a victim of a nuclear strike, there would then be no political or military authority in place to assume command of the situation in the country. "Setting up the top security apparatus also involves huge budgetary allocation. The government therefore plans to study how a nuclear command authority operates in other nuclear countries."
  • Pokhran tests meant to end nuclear apartheid The Hindu 6 Sep 1998 -- Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said that the Pokhran tests were meant to shock the exclusive nuclear club out of their ``nuclear apartheid'' and offered to join a nuclear weapons convention if these powers reciprocated. He said instead of confrontation, nations should cooperate with one other for the larger benefit of humanity.
  • India willing to destroy N-weapons if others did the same, says Vajpayee Redif On The NeT 05 September 1998 -- In a clear message to the five-member exclusive nuclear club on India's standpoint on nuclear disarmament, even as he was under increasing pressure from them to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the prime minister declared that the country will take the initiative to destroy its weapons provided the other nuclear countries reciprocated.
  • NAM declaration backs India's call for disarmament conference in 1999 Redif On The NeT 05 September 1998 -- The 150-page Durban Declaration, issued late on Thursday night, also contains no critical reference to India and Pakistan for conducting nuclear tests and is considered as a diplomatic victory for New Delhi.
  • Indian pressure makes NAM revise nuclear stand Redif On The NeT 05 September 1998 -- The original formulation, which was dropped, expressed deep concern at the re-emergence of a nuclear arms race and called upon all states which have the capability to produce nuclear weapons to refrain from weaponising this capability and to desist from placing them on a delivery system.
  • INDIA / PAKISTAN Voice of America 05 September 1998 -- INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE SAYS INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE MADE PROGRESS ON RESUMING OFFICIAL-LEVEL TALKS. OFFICIALS RESOLVED DIFFERENCES OVER HOW TO RESUME TALKS AT A MEETING IN SOUTH AFRICA ON THE SIDELINES OF THIS WEEK'S NON-ALIGNED SUMMIT.
  • 2,500-km plus Agni-II almost ready Redif On The NeT 05 September 1998 -- The development of the superior Agni-II has reached a definitive stage and will be testfired in the 'very near future', defence ministry sources said.
  • Who's to blame for India's nuclear ambition? Arun Gandhi Redif On The NeT 04 September 1998 -- India expected sympathy and help from like-minded friends in much the same way as Gandhi and Malcolm X did. However, just as Gandhi and Malcolm X came to the painful conclusion that their brown skin will never be overlooked by the Whites whatever they do, India has come to the decision that disregarding the West is the only course left to them.
  • NAM declaration silent on India, Pak The Hindu 4 Sep 1998 South Africa was also of the opinion that it had weakened NAM's stand on nuclear disarmament and could embolden other countries to enter into a nuclear race. Indian sources, while expressing satisfaction with the NAM declaration on the nuclear issue, said there had been a general understanding of India's compulsions to undertake the tests.
  • Address by the Prime Minister of India at the XII NAM Summit at Durban 3 September 1998 -- Our position on the Non-Proliferation Treaty is well known and has been consistent since the Treaty was first proposed. It is a discriminatory treaty and has not served the purpose of non-proliferation, but has given the right to five countries to proliferate vertically in disregard of universal opinion against the very existence of nuclear weapons. The commitment undertaken by the nuclear weapon states to work for general and complete disarmament has been disregarded completely.
  • U.S. Senators justify sanctions The Hindu 3 Sep 1998 The U.S. needed to obtain immediate and unwavering guarantees from these Governments that they would work to bring peace and security to the region. These are necessary and critical steps both to reduce tensions in the region and to minimise the threat of nuclear conflict around the world, he said in the letter.
  • Yeltsin briefs Clinton on crisis The Hindu 2 Sep 1998 Mr. Clinton expressed concern over the arms race between India and Pakistan and warned that it could lead to a ``direct war'' between the two in which the U.S. and Russia could get involved.
  • 'Nishant' successfully testfired Redif On The NeT 02 September 1998 -- The indigenously built unmanned air vehicle's flight target demonstrated its capabilities in accurate navigation to designed target points and in flying extended missions lasting several hours with electro-optic and photographic payloads.
  • Pressure groups pose challenge to India The Hindu 1 Sep 1998 The meeting of NAM Ministers, held in June at Cartagena, produced a document - in tune with India's stand - with its thrust on nuclear disarmament. South Africa recently created a stir by circulating a draft declaration for the Durban Summit, which departed from the stand taken by the NAM Ministers at Cartagena.
  • Inquiry into Nuclear Tests by India and Pakistan Submission by Associate Professor Marika Vicziany Director, National Centre for South Asian Studies, Monash Asia Institute & Department of Economics to the References Committee Australian Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee/Legislation Committee
  • Inquiry into Nuclear Tests by India and Pakistan Submission by Hon, Jim Kenan Q. C. Chairman, Australia India Council to the References Committee Australian Senate, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
  • Against Nuclear Apartheid Jaswant Singh Foreign Affairs, September/October 1998 -- Senior Adviser on Defense and Foreign Affairs to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a Member of Parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party. -- The nuclear tests it conducted on May 11 and 13 were by then not only inevitable but a continuation of policies from almost the earliest years of independence. India's nuclear policy remains firmly committed to a basic tenet: that the country's national security in a world of nuclear proliferation lies either in global disarmament or in exercise of the principle of equal and legitimate security for all.



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