UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Nuclear powers India and Pakistan attained that status in a "legitimate" fashion because neither country signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Thursday.

"In the context of the NPT, India and Pakistan had never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and therefore they weren't in violation of it by having nuclear programs," Bolton said.

At present, 187 nations have signed the NPT - which first opened for signatures in 1968. The treaty allows for five states - the United States, Britain, China, Russia and France - to possess nuclear weapons.