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Pak tests way behind ours, says Fernandes

Defence Minister George Fernandes said in New Delhi on Monday that Pakistan only conducted one nuclear test and not five on May 28. "Everything that we have learnt about their nuclear tests shows that they are nowhere near where we are," he added.

"In terms of our tests, we (also) went in for low intensity, sub-kiloton tests. They are the most important tests in any kind of nuclear testing,'' Fernandes said, adding that as defence minister he was ''sanguine, and not worried'' by the Pakistan tests.

''When we went with our testing, we were aware of what was to come. Pakistan has said it is India-specific, but we are not Pakistan-specific. Our concerns are much bigger, and we have acted on those bigger concerns,'' the minister said.

When asked if India might consider fresh tests, Fernandes said, ''No''. On whether this meant the prime minister's moratorium on testing stands, the defence minister said ''As of now, yes. In terms of a country's security concerns, one doesn't say the last word at any point of time. When the prime minister said we are going for a moratorium, that moratorium stands. But I hope we don't get into that kind of a syndrome where they go for testing and then we say alright let's also go for testing. We don't need to go for any more testing. Whatever we needed to know, we got it.''

Fernandes said any nuclear tests, without weaponising, did not make any sense.

''Whether one needs to weaponise in the context of what has happened across the border is a matter on which, in Parliament, the prime minister has made a public offer to Pakistan to sit together, talk and that we should not get into any kind of a nuclear weapon race. Therefore, it is going to be a two-way traffic and I hope Pakistan responds to the prime minister's appeal,'' he said.

On whether the government would be prepared to use the deterrent, Fernandes said, ''Whatever is needed for the nation's security has to be used and will be used. The army chief has said the army always wanted it, the army is happy that it has it and the army believes that no one can push us around''.

India would put into place the same kind of controls which exist in those countries which have nuclear weaponry. There would be only one person with his finger on the nuclear button and that would be the prime minister, Fernandes pointed out.

''That's how it has always got to be. In India, the prime minister is the executive head of the government and it should be the prime minister, and it shall be the prime minister,'' he said.

He refused to give details of the size of the deterrent or the cost of creating it.

''These are matters which I do not believe can be aired in public. It is such a sensitive matter today, with the kind of responses we have had from all around the world, that what India has to do India must do. But what it must do is something which must be left to those who have to take these decision,'' he added.

Fernandes agreed that the Strategic Defence Review, which he had earlier said would be held before exercising the nuclear option, had not been held so far.

''One exercised the nuclear option for the reason that one felt the time had come to exercise it. The review will have a further look at the whole situation because the review is not concerned only with the nuclear situation. The review is concerned with our threat perceptions, the overall security environment in the region and what our role is going to be,'' he said.

Discussing the scientific compulsions behind the testing, the minister said, "The scientists felt that the tests were needed, after all we haven't done any testing since 1974 and there has been a lot of development in the nuclear science arena and its applications and the scientists wanted to test it. We have to show not only ourselves, but also tell the world, that we are there."

UNI

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