"We were secure enough, and these tests were really not necessary, pointed out Lt Gen (retd) VR Raghavan (retd) of the Delhi Policy Group.

But having done that, the government should expect a co-ordinated response from the countries, he added. The cloud of sanctions should not worry us, because no country is likely to impose any, Raghavan said.

What was really expected from the government was to wait for the report of the strategic review before going in for the tests, opined Gen Dipankar Banerjee, director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

According to him, when there is a talk of sanctions, we should bear in mind the fact that there is a global revulsion to nuclear tests. While, the US and Japan are taking about sanctions, no firm commitment has come fromthose quarters.

If Australia and New Zealand have recalled their envoys, it is because they would like to rethink on whole situation before they take further action, Banerjee added.

The requirement of the hour is to optimise the positive side of the tests and the government should try to go beyond the CTBT, Raghavan stated. There should be no reason for any more sanctions or any further conditions, he said.

Now that the bridge has been crossed and the charade is over, it is time for India to emphatically reaffirm its commitment to nuclear disarmament, Raghavan said.

About the Chinese reactions to this tests, Raghavan said the Chinese would not be forthcoming with their views. This is a complex and strategic situation, he said.

According to him, what the BJP government seems to have overlooked is the impact on the states. The government is not really clear on its long-term plans on strategic, economic, political and diplomatic issues.

In fact, he said, India is in a position to rework the disputedpoints in the CTBT, he said. "India is in a position of strength to talk on hotspots like subcritical, hydronuclear tests. It can now seek a ban on even those nuclear tests which do not have explosive elements," said Rahul Roy Chowdhry, Research Associate in the Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA).

The domestic laws in the United States like the Glenn-Symington Amendment, 1994, would immediately apply to India which is a non-nuclear weapon state but has carried out three underground nuclear tests on Monday in the Rajasthan desert.

Moreover, Japan, which has been attacked by nuclear bombs twice is bound to get very upset.

The analysts have said that the government should counter the possible Pakistani diplomatic offensive to impose sanctions on India. In fact, Pakistan may not retaliate by conducting a nuclear test, but may go on internationally as a "hurt boy" and would seek sanctions against India, they felt.

Analysts have dispelled fears of an arms race. "There is no question of Indiadeciding on building a nuclear arsenal. It has kept the missiles and the nuclear warheads separate so far and as long as it remains so, there will be no arms race".

India, after undertaking a highly sophisticated exercise of exploding a fission-fusion-fission device, is now a nuclear weapons state, though unofficially recognised. "This has definitely enhanced its status and it can now claim a permanent seat," defence expert, RR Subramaniam said.

Militarily, with the successful tests, India can make a tactical field-level weapon, produce warheads for ballistic missiles like Agni and Prithvi and possibly the cruise missile Sagarika. It would also help in minitiarisation of nuclear weapons, they added.