INDIA THUMBS NOSE AT INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH MORE NUCLEAR TESTS

Washington, DC -- As India thumbed its nose once again at the international community by conducting two additional nuclear tests earlier this morning, the Center for Defense Information (CDI) called on the Clinton administration to strengthen economic sanctions.

"New Delhi has flaunted the international norm that was building against nuclear testing and should be punished accordingly," CDI Senior Research Analyst Andrew Koch said. "These sanctions should be maintained until India agrees to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and agrees to cease production of fissile material."

The Indian tests have put tremendous pressure on the government of Pakistan to conduct a test of its own. "Pakistani scientists have said they are prepared to test a nuclear device as soon as the political decision is made," Koch noted, adding that the test would likely occur at Pakistan's test site in Chagai hills.

According to a forthcoming study by the Center for Defense Information, India has enough weapons-grade nuclear material to build 80-100 weapons, while Pakistan has enough for 25-40 nuclear bombs.

CDI is an independent research organization that opposes excessive military expenditures and policies that increase the danger of war.