He accused the five permanent Security Council members of double standards and of increasing rather than lessening regional tensions.

According to Mr Vajpayee: "India's nuclear tests were necessary because of the failure of flawed non-proliferation regime, and, therefore, we categorically reject the notion that these have adversely affected either region or global security."

He said it was "grotesque" for the United Nations "to address India in this manner - a country that represents one sixth of humanity and is the world's largest democracy and a founder member of the United Nations."

He also called for global initiatives to eliminate all nuclear weapons and called for bilateral talks with Pakistan.

It was the Indian Prime Minister's first direct attack on the United Nations since Saturday, when the Security Council denounced India and Pakistan's tests and urged them to take steps to avert an arms race.

On Sunday, India described the UN resolution as "coercive and unhelpful."

Mr Vajpayee also argued that attempts to project the Indian tests as a threat to security are misguided, saying his government would take decisions in a reasonable and responsible manner.

Calls for talks with Pakistan

Mr Vajpayee appealed to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif to resume bilateral talks on all issues, including the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir.

He said a secure and prosperous Pakistan is in India's interest.

. But in his address to parliament in Delhi, Mr Vajpayee stressed there was no place for any outside involvement whatsoever in any dialogue with Pakistan.

Mr Sharif has already said he is willing to restart talks with India but has stressed the Kashmir issue is the key dispute.

In 1997, talks between the two rivals collapsed without any progress when India refused to put Kashmir at the top of the agenda.

Pakistani Islamic bomb

Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, says his country's nuclear capability should not be described as an Islamic bomb.

Speaking during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Mr Sharif said Pakistan's recent nuclear tests had nothing to do with religion and the two issues should not be confused.

Mr Sharif also said that Pakistan had no intention of exporting its nuclear expertise to other countries.