This time too, the yields were disputed as also the success of the thermonuclear or fusion device. While from within the DRDO/ DAE establishment some differences did surface on the claimed results, outside of it, both from within India and abroad there is a strong body of opinion which believes that we may have been successful with the fission bombs, but the thermonuclear device had glitches. According to Perkovich, the US intelligence community concluded that the thermonuclear bomb was a two-stage device in which the second stage failed to ignite.

However, the country decided to withhold further testing. Many analysts hold the view that there were two reasons — both questionable — for the self-imposed ban on testing: one, to soften international reaction and two, because our scientists claimed the tests had achieved the objectives. They probably optimistically believed that whatever else needed to be learnt, could be done through computer simulation.

The fundamental question that ought to be objectively addressed is whether on the basis of the tests conducted we are capable of designing both fission and fusion warheads required for our desired strategic nuclear weapons capability. This was an extremely important question at the time when we unilaterally imposed a moratorium on further testing. It remains equally important today as we debate the nuclear deal.

Delving into the first issue of managing international reaction at that time would now be only of academic interest. But the second reason — of the capability to design and construct appropriate fission and fusion bombs — is vitally important. If we have the know-how to manufacture the entire range of nuclear weapons that we need, then how do we justify the uproar over testing.

... contd.