New Delhi: The P V Narasimha Rao Government came close to testing a nuclear device before the Pokhran-II tests in May 1998, but was persuaded against it by then US President Bill Clinton, claimed Strobe Talbott who was his Assistant Secretary of State.

"The United States Government took the information we had, brought it to the Prime Minister through his Personal Secretary of the time and said that this is what we think you are going to do. It is going to be a huge mistake," Talbott told Shekhar Gupta in 'Walk the Talk' programme for NDTV 24x7.

Asked by Gupta whether Clinton called Rao, Talbott said, "Yes. There was no formal promise (that India would not test). America's message was received and the test didn't happen."

He went on to add, "It wasn't a threat but there was a strong argument because it would be contrary to everybody's interest."