“If India
builds a bomb, we will eat grass or leaves, even go hungry, but we will get one
of our own. We have no alternative.”
- Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto
Pakistan’s
nuclear weapons program was established in 1972 by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto –
Minister for Fuel, Power and Natural Resources. He later became the President
and Prime Minister of Pakistan. After the separation of East and West Pakistan,
Bhutto initiated the said program.
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| Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Foto: Geo News |
The beginning, due to India and with German knowledge
Pakistan’s
nuclear program gained momentum after India tested its nuclear device in 1974.
Since then, Pakistan continued to work towards its nuclear technology and
expertise, but it was only in 1975, after Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan joined the
program, that Pakistan considerably advanced its technology and efforts. Dr
Abdul Qadeer Khan was a German-trained metallurgist. He brought with him
uranium enrichment technologies from Europe and knowledge of gas centrifuge
technologies from the Netherlands. He was also put in charge of building,
equipping and operating Pakistan’s Kahuta facility, which was established in
1976. Pakistan was able to establish a covert network to obtain materials and
technology, all thanks to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
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| Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan - the father of the Pakistani atomic bomb. Foto: YouTube, Sultan Ahmad |
In 1985,
Pakistan crossed the threshold of weapons-grade uranium production, and by 1986
it is thought to have produced enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.
Pakistan didn’t stop here but kept progressing its uranium enrichment program,
and according to some Pakistani sources, Pakistan had the ability to carry out
its very own nuclear tests in 1987.
Even though
Pakistan had the ability to go nuclear, it didn’t. WHY? It’s mainly because
Pakistan always justified its nuclear weapons by stating its need for defence
against India. Hence, Pakistan only became overtly nuclear when India exploded
its nuclear devices on May 11 and 13, 1998. On May 28 and 30, 1998, Pakistan
also became a nuclear power. These explosions were described by Pakistani
leaders as the rectification of the strategic imbalance in the region caused by
India’s nuclear explosions.
Pakistan had no other choice, it was pushed to act so..
The major
factors that pushed Pakistan to become a nuclear power in 1998 were (1)
reluctance of Western powers to impose sanctions on India, (2) non-availability
of credible security guarantees to Pakistan, (3) Pakistani perception that U.S.
will not provide adequate economic assistance and military sales (4)
anti-Pakistan statements from India – use of nuclear weapon to extend influence
of military beyond LOC (line of control) in Kashmir, (5) and finally the
growing domestic pressure for testing.
Pakistan
was already economically suffering; the testing of nuclear weapons destroyed
the Pakistani economy. But it was justified by the government as necessary due
to advantages that ended up becoming the pillars of Pakistani defense. Pakistan
was able to successfully offset its conventional military weaknesses.
Pakistan
also made its defenses invulnerable and transformed its inferiority to nuclear
parity with its key opponent.
Furthermore, states do not acquire nuclear
weapons to conquer their enemies, but instead, it is to create a strong nuclear
shield in order to avert wars by keeping in mind the concept of MAD – Mutually
Assured Destruction. No state in the world thinks of destroying the security
and territorial unity of a nuclear state.
AM
