http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/may1998/msg00045.html The following is the 
text of a letter sent Monday to President Clinton from Indian Prime Minister Atal 
Bihari Vajpayee: Dear Mr. President, You would already be aware of the underground 
nuclear tests carried out in India. In this letter, I would like to explain the 
rationale for the tests. I have been deeply concerned at the deterioriating security 
environment, specially the nuclear environment, faced by India for some years 
past. We have an overt nuclear weapon state on our borders, a state which committed 
armed aggression against India in 1962. Although our relations with that country 
have improved in the last decade or so, an atmosphere of distrust persists mainly 
due to the unresolved border problem. To add to the distrust that country has 
materially helped another neighbour of ours to become a covert nuclear weapons 
state. At the hands of this bitter neighbor we have suffered three aggressions 
in the last 50 years. And for the last ten years we have been the victim of unremitting 
terrorism and militancy sponsored by it in several parts of our country, specially 
Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Fortunately, the faith of the people in our democratic 
system as also their patriotism has enabled India to counter the activities of 
the terrorists and militants aided and abetted from abroad. The series of tests 
are limited in number and pose no danger to any country which has no inimical 
intentions towards India. We value our friendship and cooperation with your country 
and you personally. We hope that you will show understanding of our concern for 
India's security. I assure you that India will continue to work with your country 
in a multilateral or bilateral framework to promote the cause of nuclear disarmament. 
Our commitment to participate in non-discriminatory and verifiable global disarmament 
measures is amply demonstrated by our adherence to the two conventions on Biological 
and Chemical Weapons. In particular we are ready to participate in the negotiations 
to be held in Geneva in the Conference on Disarmament for the conclusion of a 
fissile material cut-off treaty. I enclose for your information the text of the 
press statement issued after the nuclear tests were carried out today. I close 
with the expression of my highest consideration for your country and yourself. 
Yours sincerely, A.B. VAJPAYEE