Pakistan responded to India's five recent nuclear tests with an equal number of its own detonations on Thursday.

The underground detonations in a remote western region of Pakistan occurred about 3:30 p.m. (1030 GMT/6:30 a.m. EDT) in the Chagai region of Pakistan's desolate southwestern Baluchistan province. The site is barely 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the border with Iran and Afghanistan.

"We have settled the score," Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a nationally televised address. "I am thankful to God."

"We were never trying to get into a nuclear race," said Sharif. He blamed India for pushing Pakistan "into this position" and said Pakistan had to conduct the tests in order to protect itself.

The US President has already conducted a press conference and spoken about sanctions against Pakistan.