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August 13, 1985

Ciphered Telegram No. 213, Embassy of Hungary in India to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry

This document was made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)

A Soviet counselor told our counselor that in their opinion, the Indian government seriously considered developing an atomic bomb, but it has not made a final decision yet.

On the basis of the signs which have been observable in recent weeks, one may conclude that they have started to make the domestic and international public opinion psychologically prepared for the possibility of exploding an Indian atomic bomb. Such a test would also put the Soviet Union in a delicate position, because the USSR is consistently committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while at the same time India's nuclear armament would create an entirely new strategic situation in South Asia.

During Rajiv Gandhi's visit in Moscow, the Indian side sought to persuade the Soviet side to provide a nuclear reactor without the necessary Indian safeguards, but the Soviet side firmly refused to do so.

– 213 – T. –

Report on the status of the Indian nuclear program from Soviet sources. India may be preparing for an atomic bomb test.



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Document Information

Source

Hungarian National Archives (Magyar Országos Levéltár, MOL). XIX-J-1-j India, 1985, 68. doboz, 60-532, 004156/1985. Obtained and translated for NPIHP by Balazs Szalontai.

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Original Uploaded Date

2011-11-20

Type

Telegram

Language

Record ID

111955

Donors

Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)