PM reiterates, India is still open to conduct N-tests if needed
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Jan 3, IRNA
India-PM-N-Tests
Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has reiterated that India would not foreclose its option to carry out nuclear tests if the situation so warrants.
The Prime Minister, however, stated that as a responsible nuclear state, India will continue to abide by its commitment of maintaining voluntary moratorium on nuclear tests. Dr Singh said this during discussions with top Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership on foreign policy issues, said official sources.
India's relations with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the focus of discussion in the luncheon meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence yesterday.
Singh allayed the fears of the opposition regarding foreign policy initiatives of the country. National Security Advisor, M.K. Narayanan and the Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon assisted the Prime Minister in outlining government's approach on the foreign policy front.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee also briefed the BJP leaders on the situation in India's neighborhood.
The BJP leadership was represented by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K.Advani and former External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh. Former National Security Advisor and Head of the BJP Foreign Affairs Cell, Brajesh Mishra was also present in the meeting.
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