SLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan said on Thursday it was disturbed by reports that India might be considering additional nuclear tests after doubts were raised about the success of its 1998 tests.
Indian nuclear scientist S. Santhanam, who was a director for 1998's test-site preparations, has claimed that the tests were only partially successful and the results were much weaker than claimed at the time.
In a reported statement urging India not to sign the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty, Santhanam said the 1998 explosions did not yield the desired results as the thermonuclear devices tested were a "fizzle."
"We are disturbed by media reports that India might be considering additional tests," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly press briefing Thursday.
India's Atomic Energy commission chief Anil Kakodkar denied Wednesday that the country was planning any more tests, however, and Santhanam's "fizzle" claims have been rejected by Indian government and other nuclear officials.
"We have enough data. We have comprehensive simulation capability and therefore there is no need for any more tests," Kakodkar told local news agency PTI from Mumbai.
India carried out nuclear tests on May 11 and 13, 1998 and Pakistan responded days later with six tit-for-tat tests, on May 28 and 30.
Islamabad, however, unilaterally announced a moratorium on further testing if India did not carry out additional tests.
Basit said Pakistan hoped the moratorium would continue to be observed.
"We hope that the unilateral moratorium on testing effective since 1998 will continue to be maintained," Basit added. Link...
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