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.News - Press Release - May 11, 1998PRESS STATEMENTNew Delhi May 11, 1998As announced by the Prime Minister this afternoon today India conductedthree underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran range.The tests conductedtoday were with a fission device, a low yield device and a thermonucleardevice.The measured yields are in line with expected values.Measurementshave also confirmed that there was no release of radioactivity into theatmosphere.These were contained explosions like the experiment conductedin May 1974.These tests have established that India has a proven capability fora weaponised nuclear programme.They also provide a valuable database whichis useful in the design of nuclear weapons of different yields for differentapplications and for different delivery systems.Further they are expectedto carry Indian scientists towards a sound computer simulation capabilitywhich may be supported by sub-critical experiments if considered necessary.The Government is deeply concerned as were previous Governments, aboutthe nuclear environment in India's neighbourhood.These tests provide reassuranceto the people of India that their national security interests are paramountand will be promoted and protected.Succeeding generations of Indians wouldalso rest assured that contemporary technologies associated with nuclearoption 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 ofnations which ushered in the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963 due to environmentalconcerns.Indian representatives have worked in various international forums,including the Conference on Disarmament, for universal, non-discriminatoryand verifiable arrangements for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.The Government would like to reiterate its support to efforts to realisethe goal of a truly comprehensive international arrangement which wouldprohibit undergournd nuclear testing of all weapons as well as relatedexperiments described as sub-critical or 'hydronuclear'.India would be prepared to consider being an adherent to some of theundertakings in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.But this cannot obviouslybe done in a vacuum.If would necessarily be an evolutionary process fromconcept to commitment and would depend on a number of reciprocal activities.We would like to reaffirm categorically that we will continue to exercisethe most stringent control on the export of sensitive technologies, equipmentand commodities especially those related to weapons of mass destruction.Our track record has been impeccable in this regard.Therefore we expectrecognition of our responsible policy by the international community.India remains committed to a speedy process of nuclear disarmament leadingto total and global elimination of nuclear weapons.Our adherence to theChemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention is evidenceof our commitment to any global disarmament regime which is non-discriminatoryand verifiable.We shall also be happy to participate in the negotiationsfor the conclusion of a fissile material cut-off treaty in the Geneva basedconference on Disarmament.In our neighbourhood we have many friends with whom relations of fruitfulcooperation for mutual benefit have existed and deepened over a long period.We assure them that it will be our sincere endeavour to intensify and diversifythose relations further for the benefit of all our peoples.For India,as for others, the prime need is for peaceful cooperation and economicdevelopment.New Delhi11.5.1998
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