MOSCOW: The official Soviet news agency Tass confirmed today [Sept 25] that Russia had an atomic weapon and said that it had had the secret since 1947. But it said there were “not the slightest grounds for alarm”, and that Russia still favoured prohibiting the use of the atomic bomb. The agency said the Russian atomic explosion reported by the British and American Governments concerned the large-scale building works now in progress in Russia with the use of the latest blasting techniques. — News agencies [Meanwhile, according to Dawn’s correspondent in Cairo,] A great sensation was caused ... here because of a statement of the new Indian Ambassador in which he said that he believed relations between Pakistan and Arab countries were not strong to the extent of forming a bloc. The Indian Ambassador further said: India is established on Gandhi’s ideals, while Pakistan pays great consideration to religion. This happens at a time when modern states differentiate between religion and politics.” ... A big religious divine in Al-azhar commented: “A Muslim diplomat should not have compared Islamic and other ideals ... especially in a country like Egypt, where Islam is the official religion.”