NEW DELHI: The reasons behind the resuming of nuclear testing are the continuing negative reaction of the United States to India's nuclear restraint since the 1974 test; the increasing threat from a nuclear armed China intent on providing Pakistan with offensive capability against India, as well as the need to ensure that the Indian deterrent is safe and reliable. After waiting for nearly 25 years for a positive response to India's soft policy, the country has been forced into a series of tests to ensure its defence against future nuclear blackmail.

Despite avoiding further testing since the 1974"peaceful nuclear exploration," India was met with sanctions on a range of nuclear technologies "that were 85% civilian," in the words of a top policymaker. He added that "even essential safety equipment, as well as technology and materiel needed for peaceful applications such as weather forecasting, were denied to us by Washington."

However, these sanctions had the effect of spurring Indian scientists into developing supercomputers and other equipment "that even China cannot match," he added.

Another reason for the resuming of testing by the world's sixth declared nuclear power was the stepping-up of China's assistance to Pakistan through its North Korean ally. The near-total absence of United States reaction to such technology transfers convinced Indian policy-makers that "we cannot expect any credible US action to prevent cross-border = proliferation by two countries described by Washington as "strategic allies." In contrast, the United States has taken an offensive position on India, especially through favoured media outlets such as The New York Times, "despite New Delhi's total prevention of the proliferation of strategic technology to other countries," said a cabinet source, who added that "it is clear that by the time the Clinton administration wakes up to

the danger posed by the China-Pakistan- North Korean axis, it will be too late for India, unless we perfect our own deterrent."

Analysts believe that the policy of nuclear restraint followed by India has encouraged both China and Pakistan to step up their covert war against India. Islamabad has backed organisations active in the terror campaign in Kashmir. China has given help to insurgents in the North-east, and has

provided logistical support to terrorist groups operating within Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. "Enough is enough. It takes two hands to clap, but only one to molest. Thus far, India's restraint has been met only by increased anti- India activities, "said a high-level policy-maker.

"Given that universal nuclear disarmament is utopian, and that China is merrily proliferating, there was no option but to take steps to perfect our deterrent," said a military source. He added that "India being a full democracy, is much more responsible than China or even Russia, where governmental authority has ceased to exist in most sectors. Pakistan, using money from its friends, is shopping for scientists and materials to become a nuclear power. Under the circumstances, India was left with no option but to resume testing," said a top policy- maker, who added that "our scientists informed us that a minimum number of tests was needed to ensure safety, especially as the United States has banned all safety technologies to us since 1974."

A cabinet source confirmed that "tests would be kept to a minimum and the policy of not allowing proliferation of technology would continue." He however said that "much would depend on the reaction of the other nuclear powers. Sometimes, painting a country as an outlaw becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy."