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August 12, 1996

US Embassy in New Delhi Telegram 9250 to State Department, 'Ambassadorā€™s Meeting with Opposition Leader'

Report on US Ambassador to India Frank Wisner's meeting with Indian Opposition Leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee about the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and halting any nuclear test. The Ambassador found the meeting unproductive. The CTBT was central to the discussion but it was evident that Vajpayee was not interested and his ā€œbody languageā€ indicated that he was inclined to favor a nuclear test. During one point in the discussion, Vajpayee asked, ā€œWhat if we start underground tests?ā€ According to the embassyā€™s message, ā€œwe interpret his question about testing as indicating that [he] and the BJP would favor a testā€ and would not be persuaded by U.S. argumentsā€”ā€œreasonā€ā€”to forego one.

January 19, 1996

State Department Telegram 008785 to US Embassy India, 'CTBT Letter from the President: India-Specific Talking Points'

A State Department telegram outlining talking points on why supporting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was in India's best interest. As it became evident that Rao was not going to make a decision to test, President Clinton resumed pressure for Indian support for the CTBT by signing off on a letter to Rao about the test ban. The State Department sent the Embassy talking points about the value of Indian support for the CTBT for Ambassador Wisner to use when delivering the Clinton letter.

December 15, 1995

Talking Points, State Department, South Asian Regional Affairs, 'Additional Testimony and Qā€™s and Aā€™s for Congressional Briefing'

State Department talking points for analyzing the issue of a potential Indian Nuclear Test. These talking points review the state of play after Ambassador Wisnerā€™s demarche to the Indian Foreign Ministry. Recognizing Prime Minister Raoā€™s cautiousness, US government officials did not believe that he had made a decision to test, but they were aware that he was under great pressure to do so. Therefore, the U.S. government was working with allies, encouraging them ā€œto urge India not to test.ā€ Parallel discussions were taking place with the Pakistanis over the production of enriched uranium over above the 3 to five 5 percent level that could be used to fuel nuclear reactors. The Pakistanis were denying that they were producing highly enriched uranium but intelligence reports suggested that they were contemplating such action or had already begun the process.

December 15, 1995

Draft State Department Telegram to US Embassy Beijing, 'Possible Indian Nuclear Test'

The State Department writes to Islamabad urging Pakistan to not react if in fact India chooses to launch a nuclear test. On 15 December the New York Times published a story by Tim Weiner, under the headline ā€œUS Suspects India Prepares to Conduct Nuclear Test.ā€ While some Indian journalists and policy experts were convinced that the story was a US government plant, Weiner had simply used due diligence in pursuing a lead from a non-government expert on nuclear proliferation issues. Worried that the story would exacerbate regional tensions by encouraging Pakistan to ā€œact in a manner that jeopardizes our nonproliferation efforts in South Asia,ā€ the Department wanted to enlist the Chinese to encourage the Pakistanis to ā€œexercise restraint in response to these reports.ā€

December 12, 1995

Email, ITAIN Division Reports to Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee, CTB, Nuke, 'Indian Nuclear Update'

Email from ITAIN Division to Reports to the Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee regarding the state of India's nuclear reactors. Directed to the Joint Atomic Energy Intelligence Committee, the message provides a glimmer of the intelligence watch over the Indian nuclear test site. At least two sites were under observation, one where the mysterious cables had been rearranged, and the other where there was much ā€œpersonnel activity.ā€ The meaning of the acronym "ITAIN" is presently unknown.

December 11, 1995

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Memorandum by Robert S. Rochlin, 'Implications of an Indian Nuclear Weapons Test'

Memo from senior scientist at the ACDA, Robert S. Rochlin, discussing the possible serious political and diplomatic consequences of India launching a nuclear test. In the event that Rao had made a decision to test, the United States did not have enough ā€œleverageā€ to encourage a policy reversal or to prevent a regional arms race; Washington would need to organize a ā€œconcerted intervention by all the major states.ā€

December 11, 1995

State Department Telegram 285472 to US Embassy in Tokyo, 'ACDA Director Hollumā€™s Meeting with Japanese Officials'

Talking points for Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Director Hollum from the State Department. Hollum was instructed to ā€œurgeā€ the Japanese to convey their concern to the government of India and ā€œstrong opposition [to] any such tests.ā€ The State Department did not want to make any public statements about the situation because that ā€œwould be counterproductive,ā€ that is, it would tip the U.S.ā€™s hand Japan to tell Tokyo to voice its concerns over the possible Indian Nuclear Test to New Delhi.

December 10, 1995

State Department Telegram 28705 to US Embassy in India, 'Arrange Wisner-Varma Meeting on Testing Issue'

Telegram instructing the Charges d'Affairs to arrange an urgent meeting between the United States Ambassador to India and the Indian Prime Minister's Pricipal Secretary to discuss American concerns that India will launch a nuclear test. The State Department was ready for a demarche to the Indian government to express ā€œgrave concernsā€ about the possibility of a test.

May 31, 1983

Meeting Minutes of the Politburo of the CC CPSU, Regarding Western Plans for Deployment of New Nuclear Weapons in Europe

Politburo discussion, presided over by Andropov, on how to respond to the Western decision to deploy new nuclear weapons in Europe.

April 19, 1971

Memorandum from Andropov to Ustinov, Regarding US Positions in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Negotiations

KGB chief Andropov analyzes the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty negotiations, particularly the US negotiating positions and the preferences of various Washington agencies.

Pagination