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Two more tests on day one of sanctions
The Centre yesterday defied world opinion again by conducting two more nuclear tests, then extended an olive branch by announcing that the current "planned series of tests" had been completed and that it was willing to sign some provisions of the CTBT. Meanwhile, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee today continued with efforts at damage control, writing to Germany, Bhutan and Mauritius, explaining why India had needed to go nuclear.
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Punishment handed out with praise
Glowing praise for India's size, potential and ethos did not preclude US President Bill Clinton from signing into effect today economic sanctions aimed at punishing New Delhi for conducting nuclear tests. However, in a perceptible and significant change of tone and body language, Clinton seemed to indicate that there was scope to contain the international political and diplomatic fall-out of the Indian tests.
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Killing several birds with one atom
As the Buddha continued to smile on Wednesday, the explosion of two more nuclear devices following Monday's triple bomb, indicated that the Government is moving to a plan. There have been three hypotheses forwarded since Monday on the timing of the explosions -- the most likely explanation being that it is a prelude to signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
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Pak vows to hold its own against world pressure
Pakistan on Wednesday vowed to reject any "unilateral and discriminatory pressure" on matters of national security and expressed satisfaction "over its ability to respond effectively to new threats" in the light of two more nuclear tests conducted by India on Wednesday. The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) met on Wednesday in response to the Indian blasts.
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