WASHINGTON U.S. President Bill Clinton conferred Thursday with Russian President Boris Yeltsin about ways to prevent Pakistan from carrying out nuclear tests in response to India's recent blasts. They discussed ways in which we might continue to impress upon the government of Pakistan the importance of not testing, White House Spokesman Michael McCurry said after the 15-minute telephone call. India tested five nuclear devices on May 11 and May 13, prompting Pakistan to consider reacting in kind and drawing strong international condemnation and tough sanctions from Washington. Yeltsin had condemned India for breaking the de facto moratorium on nuclear testing but warned that the U.S. sanctions could prove counterproductive.

McCurry said the two leaders also discussed ways in which we might encourage the government of India, having tested, to think very seriously about its international obligations. He cited Clinton's call for India to announce a freeze on further tests and to sign the 1996 comprehensive test ban treaty as one option. Earlier in New Delhi, the Indian Foreign Ministry condemned comments by U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin earlier this week accusing Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani of stoking tension with Pakistan. We have earlier drawn attention to intemperate outbursts by State Department spokesmen, it said in a statement.

Such language is not used in allusion to senior political leaders of any country, even those with whom there are disagreements. We would expect this courtesy, which is standard practice in responsible diplomatic communication, would be extended to India, it added. Rubin on Tuesday condemned comments made by Advani warning Pakistan that India would respond with an iron fist to meddling in the affairs of the Indian state of Kashmir. India is foolishly and dangerously increasing tension with its neighbors and is indifferent to world opinion, said Rubin. (AFP)