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 deteriorating 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 distress
                           persists mainly due to the unresolved border problem. To add to the distress
                           that country has materially helped another neighbour of ours to become a
                           covert nuclear weapons state. At the hands of this bitter neighbour we have
                           suffered three aggressions in the last fifty 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 deteriorating security environment, specially the nuclear environment
                           faced by India for some years past has forced us to undertake limited number
                           of tests which pose no danger to any country which has no inimical intention
                           towards India.

                           I urge you, Mr President, to show understanding towards India's security
                           concerns.

                           India's commitment to participate in non-discriminatory and verifiable global
                           disarmament measures is amply demonstrated by our adherence to the two
                           conventions on biologial 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.

May 13, 1998
New Delhi