By Zahid Shah

May 28 is the historic day in Pakistan's history when the South Asian Muslim country successfully launched its nuclear tests and managed a calculated response to Indian aggression as it established its credible minimum deterrence and maintained the balance of power in the region for the stability of South Asia.

This day is always celebrated by the Pakistani nation with pride as their country became the seventh nuclear power in the world.

On May 18, 1974, when India tested its first nuclear bomb in an operation code-named “smiling Buddha” or Pokhran-1, Pakistan was left with no option but to develop its own nuclear weapons to deter a belligerent nuclear-armed India therefore the nation unanimously decided that it will eat grass but shall get the nuclear weapons of its own to ensure its survival and territorial integrity.

Consequently, Pakistan's nuclear program started making progress despite all the hardship and achieved momentum success in due course of time.

On May 11, 1998, when India again tested five nuclear bombs in operation Shakti (Pokhran-2) these tests were conducted at the time when conflict in Kashmir was escalating and it was further complemented by the warmongering statements of BJP’s Hindu nationalist leaders.

India's regional power ambitions and hegemonic designs created a security dilemma for Pakistan, left with no other option but to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity as a sovereign nation committed to its security. Pakistan conducted six successful nuclear tests in the Chaghi district of southwestern Balochistan province in response to continued aggressive posturing by India.

It was May 28, 1998, that Pakistan became the first nuclear power in the Islamic world and seventh in the world after the US, Russia, China, France, Uk, and India.

Pakistan nuclear tests were carried out after ensuring all the safeguards. India to discredit Pakistan’s nuclear program launched vile propaganda like water contamination and rise of cancer cases especially among kids in Chaghi area which held no credence. To uplift the area, mega socio-economic development programs were launched to bring positive change in lives of the local populace.

Where has India tested its first nuclear device in the Jaisalmer desert, 5 KMs from Loharki village whose residents have been experiencing radiation-related diseases besides contamination of underground water.

The site of India’s second explosion was located only 3 kms away from the village Khetolai in the locality of Pakistan where cancer death has become prevalent.

This shows that India failed to ensure all the safeguards ahead of its nuclear test.

Prior to May 1998, Pakistan made nine offers to India for keeping South Asia free of nuclear weapons. Since 1998 Islamabad has pursued several nuclear and conventional CBMs with a view to avoiding arms race in South Asia.

Full-spectrum deterrence (FSD) was introduced in response to the cold start doctrine (CSD) which suggests that India wants to impose limited conventional war against Pakistan under a nuclear umbrella. Pakistan however believes that CSD enables India to enjoy advantages at the tactical and operational levels. Pakistan plugged the gap by introducing tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs). Introduction of TNWs have significantly deterred India from executing CSD.

Pakistan military leadership has been the custodian of Pakistan nuclear program all along and have wrapped this program in layers of protection and security against all internal and external enemies by operationalising full-spectrum deterrence (FSD).

Pakistan's nuclear capability is critical in establishing the balance of power in South Asia for ensuring regional stability besides providing the country with a strategic advantage.

Criticism of Pakistan's nuclear tests holds no substance since the country’s existential threat from India was dangerous and real and had to be countered.
Moreover, the prevalent thought in Indian leadership about reviewing the No First Use nuclear policy further highlights the dangerous tendencies of the Hindu extremists hyper nationalists.

The nuclear deterrence is the factor of stability in South Asia and Pakistan shall continue to maintain full deterrence in any case. Besides Pakistan has always acted sensibly and proportionately while avoiding an arms race in the region while India has been piling up defense acquisitions for decades causing stability concerns in the region.

Pakistan is a responsible state and one of the founding member of the International Atomic Energy Agency since 1957 and have put in place very robust command and control system that prevents any unauthorized and accidental use contrary to what is the case in India where incidents of nuclear theft and leakages are on the rise. Not a single nuclear radiation accident has occurred in the nuclear history of Pakistan as all its reactors are under IAEA safeguards.
Pakistan's development of low-yield short-range missiles has further strengthened its security in the face of Indian attempts to undermine Pakistan's nuclear deterrence.

Development of Pakistan Nuclear Program overtime is a remarkable story of unprecedented development and progress in nuclear technology realm. While various political governments kept transiting from one phase to another and economic & political challenges kept coming up, Armed Forces of Pakistan remained the ardent custodians of this vital program. Under the patronage of various army leaderships of the time, nuclear program of Pakistan grew by leaps and bounds as they ensured that regardless of political and economic crisis, development of nuclear program didn’t get affected and its evolution and development continues at desired pace commensurate to the evolving threats to its security. Dedicated efforts of the scientists and unprecedented dedication and evolution of its Strategic Planning Division (SPD) overtime & Army Strategic Forces is nothing less than a marvel which Pakistan achieved while ensuring self sufficiency and self reliance.

While on the other hand, saffronisation of the Indian polity has endangered regional peace and pushed the region towards strategic instability.
As the Kashmir dispute is a nuclear flashpoint and its the world community's responsibility to play its role to get the Kashmir dispute resolved in line with the UNSC resolutions and the aspiration of the Kashmir people, otherwise due to continued hostilities against the Kashmiri people, region would continue to suffer which will further push it towards instability and chaos.

In the post-Pulwama environment, the world need to wake up to the horrible reality that India’s nuclear stockpiles are presently in the hands of Hindu fanatics who are imbued with expansionist Hindutva doctrine and hegemonic ambitions of the rogue nuclear state of India is a looming threat to the regional global peace and stability.

Moreover, Pakistan has established a comprehensive and effective national nuclear security regime that is at par with international standards and guidelines in the nuclear threat initiatives.

While the recent events and reports have raised questions over the nuclear security system of India.

For example, according to the timeline issued by the South Asia Strategic Stability Institute, 18 nuclear materials theft and lost incidents have been reported in India from 1994 to 2021, involving over 200 kgs of nuclear material. The theft of over 200 kgs of nuclear material during the last two decades in India poses serious threat of nuclear terrorism necessitating the global powers rules to raise safety standards in the country.

The very fact that some people stole or illegally mined uranium in India also raises serious concerns about nuclear safety and security in India. Its also indicates the possibility of a nuclear market existing in India that could be connected to international players.

Lax state control as indicated by the latest seizure of uranium shows that India still has to go a long way before becoming a responsible nuclear power which is unacceptable. Moreover, India has been a customer in the nuclear black market and the Indian state must regulate nuclear material or else it could be considered complicit in its trafficking.

Indian hegemonic designs, belligerent policies, massive defense procurements, irresponsible nuclear safety procedures, and recent irresponsible missile firing into Pakistan corroborate the fact that it is an irresponsible nuclear state engendering not only South Asia but the world peace as well.