The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones says Pakistan has indicated it will not carry out more tests "in the near future"

The announcement was made by foreign ministry head Shamshad Ahmed, hours after Pakistan carried out a sixth nuclear test on Saturday.

The United Nations Security Council is meeting to consider its reaction to the latest nuclear test. The Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said he was profoundly dismayed by the test.

Pakistan says tests complete

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed, speaking at a press conference, said the test series was now complete and his government was prepared to hold talks with other countries.

He said Pakistan also wanted dialogue with India, rather than a nuclear arms race, adding that neither country could afford to divert precious resources away from economic development.

Shamshad Ahmed: "We want talks"

Islamabad, he said, had no wish for an arms race and had pledged not to transfer sensitive nuclear technology.

But he added that it was "imperative" that a solution be found to the dispute with India over Kashmir.

"The fact of our existence as the neighbour of an expansionist and a hegemonistic power taught us the inevitable lesson that we must search for security," he said.

Benazir Bhutto says Pakistan's latest nuclear test was unneccesary

"Contemporary history held only one lesson for us. The answer lay in credible deterrence. Today, we have proved our credibility. There are no doubts left any more. The era of ambiguity is behind us."

The leader of the opposition in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, said the latest test was "unwarranted, unjustified and an attempt to dismantle the democratic process".