The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the nuclear tests carried out by Pakistan and urged both India and Pakistan not to conduct any more.

A statement called on the two countries to sign the nuclear non-proliferation and test ban treaties.

It said they should also resume talks.

The United States ambassador Bill Richardsondescribed it as a strong and unmistakable message from the major powers.

The BBC UN correspondent says that, in private, UN diplomats admit there is little that can be done once a country has developed nuclear weapons, other than to condemn it and threaten economic consequences.