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PAKISTAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM BRIEF HISTORY
Pakistan's nuclear weapons program was established in 1972 by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who founded the program while he was Minister for Fuel, Power and Natural Resources, and later became President and Prime Minister. Shortly after the loss of East Pakistan in the 1971 war with India, Bhutto initiated the program with a meeting of physicists and engineers at Multan in January 1972.
India's 1974 testing of a nuclear "device" gave Pakistan's nuclear program new momentum. Through the late 1970s, Pakistan's program acquired sensitive uranium enrichment technology and expertise. The 1975 arrival of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan considerably advanced these efforts. Dr. Khan is a German-trained metallurgist who brought with him knowledge of gas centrifuge technologies that he had acquired through his position at the classified URENCO uranium enrichment plant in the Netherlands
With the help of lybian colonel qazafi s financial assistance nuclear program was started. Dr abdul qadir khan asked for the new setup khan research lab near Rawalpindi airport .and it’s a record that during the shortest period of time Pakistan became the nuclear power.
WHEN PAKISTAN BECAME THE NUCLEAR POWER?
Dr abdul Qadir khan claims that the nuclear bomb technology was ready to test in 1984. He said in an interview with Pakistani media group that he wrote a letter to Gen Zia on 10 December 1984 that the weapon was ready and that he could detonate it on a notice of one week.at that time We were allying with the United States in the Afghan war. The aid was coming. he asked Gen Zia and his team to go ahead with the test, but they said they could not conduct the test as it would have serious repercussions. They argued that, since the United States had to overlook our nuclear program due to our support in the Afghan war, it was an opportunity for us to further develop the program. They said the tests could be conducted any time later.
IN LATE 80s Genral zia died in plan crash and then India aggressively started threatening Pakistan that we will take Kashmir from Pakistan whenever we want to..
In early 90s during the first term of Nawaz shareef , Sharif intensified his non-nuclear weapon policy and strictly followed the policy of deliberate nuclear ambiguity which was also continued by Benazir as well.] Responding to US embargo, Sharif publicly announced that:
"Pakistan possessed no [atomic] bomb... Pakistan would be happy to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) but it must be provided "first" to India to do the same.
In 1993 in mirpur Azad Kashmir during a routine public address
Nawaz shareef once said “india s threats are illogical and we do have the same thing which India had”
At that time ppp were in government and India claims that they are just saying rubbish.
May 12, 1998 - India conducts three underground nuclear tests at its Pokharan desert . At that time nawaz shareef was the PM of PAKISTAN . india at that time became aggressive and started threatening to Pakistan . we will take kashmir from Pakistan and pakistan is such a weak state etc.
On 15 May 1998, Sharif called and chaired a National Security Council meeting in Prime minister Secretariat he discussions went on for a few hours and encompassed the financial, diplomatic, military, strategic and national security concerns..And on the other hand asked ABDUL QADIR khan to prepare for the nuclear test
On the early morning of 27 May 1998, the ISI spotted camouflage F-16s were spotted conducting exercises; the ISI quickly got the word that the Israeli fighters, flying on behalf of India were inbound to take out Pakistan's nuclear facilities. When Sharif heard the news, he angrily ordered Pakistan Air Force to be scrambled and rolled its nuclear bombs out of their shelters in preparation to launch. But on the night of 27 May, the United States and other nations assured Nawaz Sharif that "Pakistan was safe, the Israeli attack never materialized",
according to political scientist dr. Shafik H. Hashmi.
On 28 may 1998 pakistan tested its nuclear program at chaaghi hill.
Finally, Pakistan carried out its successful nuclear tests on 28 May 1998 (codename Chagai-I), and on 30 May 1998 (codename Chagai-II), in response to the Indian detonation of six nuclear devices roughly two weeks before. After these test, the Prime minister appeared on Pakistan Television Corporation and took the nation on confidence and addressed the world:
If [Pakistan] had wanted, she (Pakistan) would have conducted nuclear tests 15–20 years ago.... but the abject poverty of the people of the region dissuaded... [Pakistan] from doing so.
But the [w]orld, instead of putting pressure on (India)... not to take the destructive road.... imposed all kinds of sanctions on [Pakistan] for no fault of her..... If (Japan) had its own nuclear capability.. (cities of)... Hiroshima and Nagasaki would not have suffered atomic destruction at the hands of the... United States.
AFTER EFFECTS
Economical effects of tests
After weeks of anticipation, Pakistan surprised the world by conducting its own nuclear tests.[60] Sharif's popularity in Pakistan increased. While he was being hailed as nationalist, Sharif proclaimed an emergency on the same day as these nuclear tests were conducted, which dismayed the public.
All foreign currency accounts in Pakistani banks were frozen to minimize the effects of economic sanctions. This was detrimental to the account holders.
America stopped giving aid to Pakistan and his alliance countries boycotted too.US imposed trade sanctions on Pakistan. At that crucial time China and Saudia Arabia helped Pakistan by giving free oil and other resources.
Political effects of test
In spite of the intense international criticism and the steady decline in foreign investment and trade, these six nuclear tests were popular domestically and the Sharif's popularity and the PML (N)'s prestige rose in response
On 30 May, Sharif appeared after immediately the tests, and informed the world, "Today, we have settled a score and have carried out six successful nuclear tests". Newspapers and television channels praised Sharif and his government for its bold decision; editorials were full of praise for the country's leadership and advocated the development of an operational nuclear deterrence for the country, despite a small-scale anti-nuclear sentiments criticised the nuclear testings which was forcefully silenced by the emerging public opinion favouring Sharif and the nuclear tests.
the day of atomic testing, the military and public policy makers, lawmakers and legislators, senior journalists, and the influential members of the civil society at the Parliament strongly chaired for the tests, loud slogans and songs of "Pakistan Zindabad" (long live Pakistan) were sung, and the tribute to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was heavily paid by the parliamentarians from all political parties of Pakistan.[60] The parliamentarians and the Leader of the Opposition Benazir Bhutto had also congratulated prime minister Nawaz Sharif
Political scientist and geostrategist Javed Hashmi was clearly heard saying: "Yes! Yes!.... We have done it.", while he was tapping his parliament desk. The Peoples Party also chaired this moment when Ameen Faheem was heard saying: "We gave the same medicines to [Indians].".
On its effects on India, the politicians in Indian parliament erupted into shouting as opposition leaders blamed the government for starting a nuclear arms race.
On International level powerful countries took this issue seriously that both the countries have the nuclear power now its time to settle the dispute between them in order to avoid any destructive nuclear war.
In this regard American, German, England, Russia and Europian parliaments passed bills at their respective parliaments to settle the Kashmir Dispute as soon as possible.
Pakistan was considered as a responsible nation who believed in peace talk
India realized the fact that after these tests its not possible to be in state of war with Pakistan anymore its better to settle the dispute with table talks.
On January 1999 Pm of India Attol behari vajpai came to Pakistan through bus . he visited yad gaar e Pakistan It was first time any Indian official visited MINAAR E PAKISTAN and even he made an announcement “ PAKISTAN is now a reality now on wards we will live as good friends as we can change our friends but not the neighbors
His visit was criticized by the Islamic idealist parties like jamaat e islami and they protested against his visit. They even washed the minaar E Pakistani park claiming due to Indian pm visit this park became dirty.
Musharaf who was the army chief of that time refused to come to visit Indian PM reception In Pakistan.
Space programme
Due to economic distress, Sharif halted the national space programme, and refused to allot any funds due to his government was struggling to provide funds for more extended programmes. Unlike Benazir who continued the space programme despite economic slow down, the Space Research Commission was forced to delay the launch of its well-developed satellite, Badr-II(B) which was completed in 1997. Delaying the satellite's launch caused frustration of the scientific community who openly criticised Prime minister's inability to promote science in the country. Senior scientists and engineers attributed this failure as "Sharif's personal corruption" that effected the national security of the country. It was not until 2001, two years since Sharif was dismissed; the satellite was finally launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome 10 December 2001 at 0915hrs by Space Research Commission.
Muslim world
All muslim countries were considered as brother of Pakistan and due to its Islamic ideology the nuclear program gave the strength to even suppressed muslims nations like Palestine to look forward to Pakistan for its moral support specially Kashmiris were seriously looking for peace talk between India and Pakistan
Confrontation with the military
The year of 1999 brought a tremendous political upheavals and dramatic changes in Pakistan as well as for the Prime minister.[12] Confrontation with military began sometime in 1999.
starting first with Admiral Fasih Bokhari, when Admiral Bokhari lodged a powerful protest against the Kargil debacle and called for court-martial of Pervez Musharraf in private television channels.
During the Kargil War in 1999, Sharif claimed to have no knowledge of the planned attacks, saying that Pervez Musharraf acted alone n 2008,
Lieutenant-General (retired) Jamshed Gulzar Kiani— at that time Kiani was Major-general and served as the Director-General of the Military Intelligence— also publicly confirmed Sharif's statement of not having the knowledge on Kargil debacle.[87] According to Major-General Kiani, General Musharraf had eye-blinded the Prime minister and did not brief him over the true facts or difficult situation which was faced by the Pakistan Army.
Well due to this unexpected kargil war we lost 3500 militry officers of northern light infantry
Indian PM aggressively talked to PM” what is this about? We shaked hand for friendship and you guys started war ? you have only one week to call your troops back other wise be prepare for full fledge war.”
Pakistan internationally faced a lot of criticism and defamation due to this irresponsible act. America helped Pakistan in settling this issue.
Some facts about PAKISTAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM
1:Despite being prime minister, BENAZIR Bhutto had been kept isolated from the nuclear programme. This infuriated President Ghulam Ishaq Khan who saw national security as his domain. As she continued with her projects and planning, Bhutto maintained her public stance saying: “We only want nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.”
Despite US and other Western powers trying to stop Pakistan from becoming a nuclear power, it is believed that Pakistan acquired nuclear capability in 1987.
2: Twenty-four years later in 2013, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani wrote in his book Magnificent Delusions, “When the Pakistanis denied that they had ‘crossed the line’, Gates commented, ‘if it waddles like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, then maybe it is a duck’.”
Haqqani wrote that, “Pakistanis had lied to Gates on both the issues that he had raised in Islamabad.” The US administration had been very watchful of Pakistan’s developments in politics and had refused certification to Pakistan before the December 1988 elections.
9-11 world trade centre issue and Pakistan
During Gen Musharaf regime we all know that musharaf accepted the Americans terms and conditions unconditionally on afghan war
Even American defence minister said
WE DID NOT EXPECT THAT PAKISTAN WILL GIVE THAT MUCH FACILITIES UNCONDITONALLY
IN THE END I WANT TO SHARE SOME EXTRACTS OF DR. ABDUL QADEER KHAN ‘S INTERVIEW WITH MALIK
[Malik] Musharraf had stated in his book that P1 centrifuges were taken from Pakistan to North Korea.
[Khan] There are different stories behind this accusation. According to Musharraf, this event took place in 2001. Musharraf himself was the chief executive and the chief of staff. The Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI] men performed their duties at the airport. If the material was being transported, then it meant it was being transported with Musharraf's consent.
[Malik] What about the why you appeared on television and gave //confessional statement//?
[Khan] Sometimes, a man can sacrifice a lot for his country. I had a lucrative job in Holland, which I left for my country.
[Malik] Were you pressured by Musharraf into giving the statement?
[Khan] Yes, they pressured and threatened me.
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