‘Pakistan was a N-power in 1983’

[arp2041]

Pakistan had acquired nuclear technology in 1983 and was capable of conducting full-scale nuclear explosions on a week notice but the fast unfolding developments in the region kept the country away from becoming a nuclear power till it finally happened in 1998.Veteran nuclear scientist and architect of Pakistan’s nuclear programme Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan said this during a detailed conversation with this journalist on Sunday in connection with Pakistan’s 14th anniversary as nuclear power (today).Recalling the bygone times, Dr AQ Khan revisited some pertinent happenings concerning Pakistan’s nuclear programme and the challenges that evolved it. “We had become a nuclear power by fall 1983 and early 1984. I had informed the then President General Ziaul Haq that we were in a position of launching full-scale nuclear explosions on a seven-day official notice,” the nuclear scientist recalled. “But due to the Afghan Jihad and a number of related factors, our plan got delayed as General Zia was reluctant and we finally achieved this milestone in 1998.”Fourteen years back on the same day (May 28), Pakistan had conducted five nuclear explosions followed by one more nuclear test a day after, in response to India’s five nuclear tests in the same month, three on May 11 and two on May 13.“We would never have let India conduct nuclear tests before us had our intelligence agencies shared with us the Indian plans to go for nuclear tests. I wanted Pakistan to carry nuclear tests before India because we were ready since 1983 against Indian nuclear build-up,” Dr Khan said.Panic had gripped Pakistan’s ruling elites when India had gone for the nuclear explosions, “Our government was shaken. They were not expecting this kind of step from India. The rulers did not have the nerve to respond to these tests in a befitting manner, so I and my team had to intervene,” the scientist further recalled.Thereafter, Dr Khan said, he and his team members at Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) warned the government of quitting the KRL if Pakistan was not to conduct the nuclear tests. “This worked. We finally became a declared nuclear power. Despite the government’s overwhelmingly defensive reaction to Indian nuclear explosions, some government functionaries played a commendable role to get us go for the tests,” he said appreciating the role of former Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan, former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan and the late Anwar Zahid, Principal Secretary to the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Fourteen years on, Pakistan is not the country, Dr Khan says, he had ever dreamt of. “There’s terrorism, corruption, exploitation, injustice and what not. You name any evil and it’s here. I could never have imagined even in my worst nightmares that all this would happen here with the country of Quaid-e-Azam. There’s this subtle dichotomy between what the ruling elites are and what they pretend to be. While the poor die of poverty, the rulers throw away millions in decorating their wardrobes with expensive suiting and valuables. This is not Quaid’s Pakistan. The rulers have to mend their ways before it’s too late and people get at their necks.”Dr Khan, who returned from Karachi the previous day, said the simple life styles of the representatives of Karachi business community impressed him to a great deal. “They are the ones who contribute billions in the national exchequer but lead modest lives unlike our rulers who gobble billions from the people’s money and live like royal kings.”On Pakistan’s defence, the nuclear scientist said, the national security is in safe hands and there is no threat to the country’s nuclear programme from “any force on the planet.” “By the grace of God, we have made Pakistan’s nuclear programme invincible. No force on this planet could dare sabotage it. It’s highly safe and secure. The only threat to our sovereignty comes from within-from the corrupt and puppet rulers. There’s no external threat. I urge the people to elect sincere and dedicated leadership in the next election. Don’t stay at homes, come out and vote for patriot people when you have to. That’s the only way we can rid ourselves of this corrupt lot of vested interests” On the possible resumption of Nato supplies, Dr Abdul Qadeer khan said, in 1970s and 80s, Pakistan was not dependent on foreign aid. “But excessive reliance on big powers has landed us in the sorry state of affairs we are grappling with today. The ruling elites want the Nato supplies to get resumed within no time so that they can fill in their already overloaded pockets. We should decide what’s in our best interest-that serves the people of Pakistan best.”

‘Pakistan was a N-power in 1983’ | The Nation

 

[Great Sachin]

what is the use...spend millions of dollar every year to make and maintain a bomb which might be never used and if it is used .....will end up destroy your own country...applicable for Pakistan and India.......

 

[T90TankGuy]

if the bomb is ever used then both sides have already lost.

 

[Pakistanisage]

For Pakistan the Nukes are a great EQUALIZER. We hope the day never comes when a nuke is lobbed at the enemy but it does act as a deterrent against adventurism. Had Pakistan owned nukes in 1971, we would not have lost the Eastern Wing.

 

[Srinivas]

China conducted a nuclear device test on its own soil which was intended to transfer to pakistan. The test which you conducted in 1998 were already tested devices on Chinese soil and don't need any testing.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

NUclear weapons are real Evil in the world. SHAME TO U.S.A and russia who started this tradition and holds 1000s of ugly nukes.
Pak, India and all nuclear holders should disable them. Just a push buttton or single mistake will lead this region into smoke, and cancer diseases. Even the misunderstanding can lead into World warIII. And everybody knows, Western countries will not keep quit until they achieves thier own interest in the Asia region.

 

[Patriot]

Thank God We did not have fake leftists then otherwise they would have said We should end nuclear program or America{USSR} will strike or our economy will be destroyed.Nukes are not peaceful and other BS.Nuclear Weapons are the most peaceful way of fighting war in a sense that you won't fight any war if you have nuclear weapons because either you (if other party is nuclear armed) or your adversary will blink .

 

[Uncle Lord]

Nukes are not made to be use .its the show piece so no one can attack you. And if you do then Get yourself prepare for the worst.
And beside Pakistan did nuke test after india. ( India tested it on 11 May , Pakistan tested Ghauri on 12 May , then when they saw IAF gathering beside Pak borders they planned nuke test on 28 May). Other wise there was a war coming and deadly one.

 

[SQ8]

China conducted a nuclear device test on its own soil which was intended to transfer to pakistan. The test which you conducted in 1998 were already tested devices on Chinese soil and don't need any testing.

Heck.. even as a model members I cant help but post this.

 

[LeGenD]

Pakistan had no option but to go nuclear after the first Indian nuclear test in 1971. Therefore, Indians cannot blame us.

China conducted a nuclear device test on its own soil which was intended to transfer to pakistan. The test which you conducted in 1998 were already tested devices on Chinese soil and don't need any testing.

WTF?

Even if China provided assistance, this does not suggests that Pakistan did not build its own nuclear weapons.

 

[Srinivas]

Pakistan had no option but to go nuclear after the first Indian nuclear test in 1971. Therefore, Indians cannot blame us.


WTF?

Even if China provided assistance, this does not suggests that Pakistan did not build its own nuclear weapons.

I was answering to the thread title.

 

[Windjammer]

I was watching an interview with Dr A Q Khan last night, the best bit was that CIA thought they pre-emptied Pakistan on crossing the nuclear threshold and Washington delivered a letter of this nullification to the PM's office in Islamabad......little realising that Pakistan by this time had several devices in it's possession.

 

[Green Hornet]

Heck.. even as a model members I cant help but post this.

Chinese supplied pakistan with nuclear technology in early 1980s. This forced india to conduct her first nuclear test back then. Paksitanis simply didn't conduct a test back then only because of american pressure.


IN early 1990s the nuclear proliferation was at full swing by AQ Khan. India under prime minister PV Narsimha Rao thought of conducting a nuclear test again but he didn't conduct it under american pressure as any economic sanction would have already weaken an already weakened economy.

It was the BJP govt. that finally conducted the test as there were reports that pakistan has already assembled a handful of nukes using chinese designs and parts. Pakistan conducted their nuclear tests just days after indian tests. This speaks volumes about their evil plans for years.