The United States is reviewing its science and technology engagement with both India and Pakistan in the aftermath of their nuclear tests. State department spokesman James Rubin who made this announcement on Wednesday in Washington said, ``This could have an impact on Indian and Pakistani scientists engaged in nuclear and missile development programmes.'' The review included the visa application process for such individuals.

``It is not - let me emphasise - not an across the board restriction on scientists from either country,'' he added. On being asked whether it was across the board for nuclear scientists? Rubin replied: ``We are engaged in a review across the board of our science and technology engagement, and it (the review) could have an impact on Indian and Pakistani scientists engaged in nuclear and missile development programmes. Because of that review and the specification I just gave you, his (Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R Chidambaram's) visa request andapplication fee were returned to him on July 9. In reply to another question, Rubin said his understanding was that Chidambaram was coming to the US to attend a conference at a university, the name of which he promised to provide later.

Asked whether the conference was ``specifically nuclear-related or missile-related or something like that,'' he said, ``it's my understanding that it was a technical scientific conference.`'But because of the broad-based review that's ongoing and because of his position as the head of India's Atomic Energy Commission, we told him that his application would have to be reviewed, and he didn't persist.''

Q: ``Do you have any idea how long this review is going to take?''

Rubin: ``I don't have any further information on that. If you have a specific question, I'll try to get you an answer''.

Q: ``Were others denied visas for this conference?''

Rubin: ``I don't think we normally provide broad-based information on every visa application. If you have aparticular person in mind, I'll try to get you an answer if we can act on it. But let me say that broadly speaking, we are reviewing scientific exchanges in this area. So this is not a policy specific to this individual. It's a broad-based policy.''

Q: ``Generally speaking, do you have a feel for how involved Indian and Pakistani scientists have been in these types of exchanges over the years, where they would have had access to American nuclear or missile technology or discussions thereof?''

Rubin: ``I wouldn't presume that because a scientist comes to the United States, they are gaining access to technology or know-how about how to build nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles, which was implied in your question. On the contrary, what we try to do is to prevent that kind of thing from happening, and try to make sure that those people who are seeking information, know-how or technology are not receiving it here in the United States. But a part of a broad-based sanctions policy, with respect to Indiaand Pakistan, that includes denial or opposition to loans in the IMF, it is appropriate for us to put restrictions in this area, and we are looking at what those restrictions ought to be.

Q: ``Their programme has been going on for decades, and I'm just wondering whether that programme might have benefited in the past, before you guys were here, from those types of exchanges.

Rubin: ``The key ingredient in nuclear proliferation is the fissile material that has been enriched to a point that it can create a nuclear chain reaction. That is not normally something that you can obtain from a scientific exchange or a discussion of that kind. It requires equipment, technology that you have to obtain from around the world.''

So if the suggestion implicit in your question is that somehow these exchanges are the cause of India becoming a nuclear power, we would reject that.

Earlier, giving details of Chidambaram's visa application, he said Chidambaram applied for a visa on June 29. His passport andapplication fee were returned to him on July 9, and he was informed that ``our current visa procedures were under review as a result of the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests. This isn't technically a refusal. `'We told them it was under review. He hasn't persisted in his effort.''