``Our attitude towards CTBT will not be based on what Pakistan does or does not do. We will take an independent decision'', Vajpayee told a crowded media conference at Raj Bhavan in Chennai today.

Fielding a barrage of queries on CTBT issue, he said, ``I know that the treaty amendments are not going to be made.''. However, he disclosed that India was making ``other arrangements to meet our requirements''. As India had become a nuclear weapons state, the PM said, ``We would like some more changes to be made particularly in transfer of high technology.'' India had held talks with the key countries on this and other points. The talks wouldresume when he visits New York next week.

Pointing out that India had immediately after the Pokharan blasts, declared that it would not conduct any further tests, he remarked: ``That is the substance of CTBT.''

He added that the decision not to conduct another blast was taken in consultation with scientists, engineers and technicians.

``Whatever data we needed we have collected. There is no further need for a nuclear test'' Vajpayee added.

SANCTIONS: The Prime Minister felt that economic sanctions clamped on India after Pokharan blast had proved to be counter-productive. India's economy is resilient and strong enough to withstand the pressures, he asserted.

On the continuing recessionary trends in the country, Vajpayee said that the government had taken a number of steps and a few more measures were in the offing. Insisting that the government was facing the problem in a determined manner, he, however hastened to add that certain developments were beyond control. Attributing the rise inprices of essential commodities to seasonal variations, the PM admitted that rising inflation was a cause of concern.

Responding to another query, Vajpayee denied that the government was ``rolling back'' the budgetary announcements and insisted that only certain changes had been effected.

To a query on the security implications of the Afghanistan-Iran stand-off, the PM said that the government was keenly interested in the situation in Afghanistan. Stating that India wanted a non-aligned Afghanistan free of external interferences, he said the country was in touch with all the countries in the region. On the Taliban's infiltration in Jammu region, Vajpayee said he taken up the issue with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during the SAARC summit at Colombo recently.

``Naturally, he denied that Pakistan had anything to do with this'' said Vajpayee. However, India was keeping a strict watch on the cross-country terrorism.