Saturday, July 15 2006 10:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Even as it insisted that its strategic programme has not been capped because of the civil nuclear deal with the US, India yesterday (July 14, 2006) conceded that if it violates the unilateral moratorium on atomic tests, it will have to 'pay the price' for it.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said that irrespective of the civil nuclear deal with the US, India would face the situation of 1998 when it conducted nuclear tests.

"It has been asked whether our strategic options are not being restricted as a result of the July 18 (2005) commitment to continue our voluntary moratorium. Let me make it quite clear that this is not a new commitment, even in bilateral understanding," he said delivering a lecture on 'India-US Joint Statement of July 18,2005: A year later' here.

He said that in 1998, India had in the UN General Assembly expressed willingness not only to continue the moratorium but also to move towards its de jure formalisation.

"We did not go as far, if the moratorium is broken, we will have to pay the price like that in 1998," said Saran.