Prime Minister Vajpayee's letter - The Nuclear Weapon

The following is the text of a letter sent to President Clinton from
                 Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee: 

Dear Mr. President, 

You would already be aware of the underground nuclear tests carried out in India. In this letter, I
would like to explain the rationale for the tests. 

I have been deeply concerned at the deterioriating security environment, specially the nuclear
environment, faced by India for some years past. We have an overt nuclear weapon state on our
borders, a state which committed armed aggression against India in 1962. Although our relations with
that country have improved in the last decade or so, an atmosphere of distrust persists mainly due to
the unresolved border problem. To add to the distrust that country has materially helped another
neighbour of ours to become a covert nuclear weapons state. At the hands of this bitter neighbor we
have suffered three aggressions in the last 50 years. And for the last ten years we have been the
victim of unremitting terrorism and militancy sponsored by it in several parts of our country, specially
Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Fortunately, the faith of the people in our democratic system as also
their patriotism has enabled India to counter the activities of the terrorists and militants aided and
abetted from abroad. 

The series of tests are limited in number and pose no danger to any country which has no inimical
intentions towards India. We value our friendship and cooperation with your country and you
personally. We hope that you will show understanding of our concern for India's security. 

I assure you that India will continue to work with your country in a multilateral or bilateral framework
to promote the cause of nuclear disarmament. Our commitment to participate in non-discriminatory
and verifiable global disarmament measures is amply demonstrated by our adherence to the two
conventions on Biological and Chemical Weapons. In particular we are ready to participate in the
negotiations to be held in Geneva in the Conference on Disarmament for the conclusion of a fissile
material cut-off treaty. 

I enclose for your information the text of the press statement issued after the nuclear tests were
carried out today. I close with the expression of my highest consideration for your country and
yourself. 

Yours sincerely, 

A.B. VAJPAYEE