I'm not questioning the ability of PA or your subsequent response to the test. My point was regarding this particular statement.
Simultaneously, through the recently introduced internet, we got a special connection and hooked on to a satellite that transmitted pictures of Pokhran with a 48 hours delay. Initially there was no activity but by February 1998, we began noticing track marks and considerable activity.
We estimated three months before India could resume nuclear testing.
That's a sweeping remark to make. Those were the days when the nuclear elite did not want outsiders like India or even Pakistan to join the club and Indo-US were close to non-existent. Had it been this obvious I'm sure the US had more accurate tracking mechanisms to identify this and put pressure on India.
Actually.. the sat's were commercial.
French company infact.
The should be enough for you guys to figure it out.