In a written statement on his arrival in Islamabad on Tuesday after attending an economic conference in Almaty, Sharif said, ``The responsibility for delivering a death blow to efforts at global non-proliferation rests squarely with India.''

He added ``These tests were encouraged by the discriminatory attitude of powers which profess commitment to non-proliferation.''

Sharif said, ``The Government's reaction to the Indian nuclear and missile tests have already been given in a statement to the Senate on Monday. We are closely monitoring the situation with special focus on the implications for Pakistan's security.''

Pakistan's top nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan told reporters in Islamabad that Pakistan had nothing to worry about and is ``very well placed'' to meet the Indian threats. Dr Qadeersaid,``We are not scared of these tests. We have been feeling for a very long time that India will carry out thermo-nuclear tests.''

Replying to a question, Dr Qadeer said,``We are ever ready. We will do what the Government decides.'' He also added as an afterthought that Pakistan can react speedily to India's tests. Giving the example of the launch of the Ghauri missile, the nuclear scientists said, ``We can do it much faster.''

In a statement faxed from London, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said, ``instead of giving a knee-jerk response of a bullet for a bullet, we should give a total and complete response for strengthening the overall national security regime''.

Later, speaking on Channel 4 television, Bhutto called upon Pakistan to immediately respond to India by carrying out a nuclear test of its own. ``It's an opportunity for Pakistan to detonate a nuclear weapon,'' she said.

The former Pakistan PM told her interviewer that her Government had prepared a contingency plan to respond to sucha situation. She said Pakistan had decided to conduct a nuclear test ``immediately'' in case India carried out a test.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Army chief General Jahangir Karamat urged the world to take notice of Indian nuclear tests, declaring Monday's tests as ``not surprising and in line with BJP's statements''.

Overall, there was condemnation of India's nuclear tests. Economists pointed out that the tests came at a time when a consortium for aid to Pakistan comprising donor countries and agencies, was meeting in Islamabad and on its agenda was a charter to prod Pakistan to cut back on defence spending.

``That demand cannot be made now as the Government will point to the Indian tests,'' commented the representative of one donor country, adding ``The tests could not have come at a worse time.''