The Chagai-I was a codename referring to the five undergroundnuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in May of 1998.[1] It was named Chagai-I, as the tests were conducted in the Chagai District (Baluchistan province). The Chagai-I — a nuclear test operation — was carried out in response to India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests on May 11 and May 13th of 1998. These nuclear tests resulted in a variety of economic sanctions against both Pakistan and India by a number of major states, particularly United States and Japan. With atomic testing of these five nuclear devices, Pakistan thus became the 7th country in the world to successfully develop and publicly test nuclear weapons.
The scientific research on atomic weapons was authorized and initiated by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on January 20th of 1972, two weeks after the disastrous Indo-Pakistani Winter war. The nuclear deterrent development was exercised in under complete control Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who came into the political power, and assumed the control of his country, days after the recent war.[2] The Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistan 1971 Winter war was an unforgettable war and lesson to the Pakistani political and military establishment.[3] For Pakistan, it was a complete and humiliating defeat,[4] a psychological setback that came from a defeat at the hands of intense rival India. Pakistan lost half its territory, a significant portion of its economy and its geo-political role in South Asia.[3] The war underscored the need to have a strong and highly well-trained and professional military with a comprehensive ability to defend itself from the enemy, notably the Indian Armed Forces.[3]The legacy of the 1971 War has left deep scars in Pakistan's civil society as well as leaving the political and military misery.[3]
The 1971 Winter war had played a crucial and groundbreaking role in the hearts of Pakistani scientists who had also witnessed the war, such as Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad and Dr. Abdus Salam.[5][3] Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was "obsessed" with Indian nuclear efforts, orchestrated and initiated the programme after chairing a meeting at Multan.[6] The weapons research program, at an early stage, was headed by world renowned scientist and Nobel Laureate in Physics Dr. Abdus Salam, as he was the head of Theoretical Physics Group and Mathematical Physics Group at PAEC.[5] Dr. Abdus Salam, who as Science adviser to the Prime ministerZulfikar Ali Bhutto, led the nuclear weapon research under his supervision and guidance until 1974.[5] In January 1972, Bhutto called nuclear engineer Munir Ahmad Khan from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to lead the program administratively while Bhutto controlled the program as the political administrative figure. Under the guidance of Salam, Munir Ahmad Khan increased the diameter of scientific research throughout the country.[7] In PAEC, Salam established research divisions and groups that took charge to carry out the physics and mathematical calculations regarding to the development of the weapon.[5]
The formerPrime Minister of PakistanZulfikar Ali Bhutto, who is widely remembered in the world as the "Father of Pakistan's atomic weapons program", for his administrative and active role in the development and initiation of the weapons program.[8] While the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's chairman Munir Ahmad Khan, is often regarded as the "technical father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program", Munir Ahmed Khan headed the scientific research program under extreme secrecy, and supervised confidential research and development for almost two decades[8]. Under Munir Ahmad Khan, the academic scientists developed the program ingeniously, and heavily contributed in their respected fields. The research to developed the atomic bomb began in a meeting called by Munir Ahmad Khan and Abdus Salam in March 1974 where mechanical engineer Muhammad Hafeez Qureshi was made head of the "Wah Group".[7] A new Directorate of Technical Development (DTD) was set up to coordinate work on the various specialized groups working in PAEC on the design, development, and testing of nuclear weapons.[9]
On March 11, 1983, a milestone was done when PAEC led by Munir Ahmad Khan carried out the first cold test of a working nuclear device, codename Kirana-I.[11] This was followed by 24 more cold tests by PAEC in which different weapon designs were tested and improved.[11] It was the DTD that carried out the cold tests and the hot tests in 1998 at Chagai.[12] After decades of covertly building and developing the atomic program and the related atomic devices.[12] Pakistan under the leadership of Prime MinisterNäväz Scharief, tested its six underground nuclear devices in Chagai Hills.[12]
In March 2005, the former Pakistan Prime ministerBenazir Bhutto said Pakistan may have had an atomic weapon long before, and her father had told her from his prison cell that preparations for a nuclear test had been made in 1977, and he expected to have an atomic test of a nuclear device in August 1977. However, the plan was moved on to December 1977 and later it was delayed indefinitely. In an interview with Geo TV, Samar Mubarakmand of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, has said that the team of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission developed the design of atomic bomb in 1978 and had successfully conducted a cold test after developing the first atomic bomb in 1983.[13]
On April 2010, Nawaz Sharif, at a public function to celebrate nuclear blasts, said the then-U.S President Bill Clinton offered a package of US$5 billion for not carrying out nuclear blasts and warned about imposition of ban otherwise.[14] Nawaz said that he was in Kazakhstan in a visit to meet the President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, when India tested its nuclear device.[15] The entire nation was united in favour of nuclear blasts and Mushahid Hussain was the first person who advice that nuclear blasts should be carried out in reply of Indian nuclear explosions.[16][17] In 1999, in an interview given to Pakistani and Indian journalists in Islamabad, Sharif had said: If India had not exploded the bomb, Pakistan would not have done so. Once New Delhi did so, We [Sharif Government] had no choice because of public pressure.[18]
Atomic Devices and Test Yields
The PAEC carried out five underground nuclear tests at the Chagai test site at 3:16 p.m. (PST) on the afternoon of May 28, 1998.[12][19]
The total maximum yield of the tests was reported to be 40 kilotons of TNT equivalent, with the largest device yielding 30–35 kilotons.[20] Western seismologists estimated the yield of the largest device to be no greater than 12 kilotons, leading U.S. nuclear weapons expert David Albright to doubt Pakistani claims.[21] Following the tests, the then Prime Minister of PakistanNawaz Sharif addressed the nation via Pakistan's government channel PTV and congratulated the entire nation and days of celebration followed throughout Pakistan.[22][23]
Scientific data received by PAEC, it appears that Pakistan did not tested a thermonuclear device, as oppose to India.[12] According to Ishfaq Ahmad, the PAEC had no plan to developed the three-stage thermonuclear device because of the economical reasons.[12] From outset, the PAEC concentrated to developed smaller but tactical nuclear weapons easily installed in PAF's aircraft, naval combatant vessels, and the missiles.[24]
As oppose to India's thermonuclear approach, dr. N.M. Butt, senior scientist, stated that PAEC built a sufficient numbers of neutron bombs — a battle-field weapon, which is essentially a low yield device.[24]
The Directorate of Technical Development of PAEC which carried out the Chagai tests issued the following statement soon after the tests:[25]
The mission has, on the one hand, boosted the morale of the Pakistani nation by giving it an honorable position in the nuclear world, while on the other hand it validated scientific theory, design and previous results from cold tests. This has more than justified the creation and establishment of DTD more than 20 years back.
Through these critical years of nuclear device development, the leadership contribution changed hands from Munir Ahmad Khan to Ishfaq Ahmad and finally to Mubarakmand.
These gifted scientists and engineers along with a highly-dedicated team worked logically and economically to design, produce and test an extremely rugged device for the nation which enable the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from strength to strength.[26]
Legacy
May 28th has been officially declared as Youm-e-Takbeer (Day of Greatness) and as well as National Science Day in Pakistan to commemorate and remembrance of the first five tests that were carried out in May 28, 1998.[27] The day was officially signed by the then-Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. The day is celebrated by giving awards (such as Chagai-Medal) to various individuals and industries in the field of science and industries.[28] The Nawaz Sharif Government also established the Chagai-I Medal and it was first awarded to the scientists of Pakistan in 1998 who were witnessed the tests.[29] The graphite mountains are visibly shown in the gold medallion and equal ribbon stripes of yellow, red and white.[29]
Global Reactions
Pakistan's tests were condemned by the international community.[30] The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1172 condemning the Indian test and that of Pakistan's. Brazil declared that it "deplores" Pakistan's decision to carry out the tests. In an official statement on May 28, 1998, the French Foreign Ministry denounced India's five nuclear tests.[30] French President Jacques Chirac implored Pakistan to abstain from further testing. Iran also criticised the tests, with a formal statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi expressing deep concern at Pakistani nuclear proliferation. Robin Cook, Britain's foreign secretary, expressed dismay at the tests. Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations, deplored the tests saying that "they exacerbate tension in an already difficult relationship".
The United Nations Security Council condemned Pakistan's five nuclear tests. "The council strongly deplores the underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan despite international calls for restraint," said a statement from Kenya's Njugumu Moses Mahugu, president of the 15-member council.
At a news conference May 28, 1998, United States President Bill Clinton condemned Pakistan's nuclear tests saying, "I deplore the decision." He also promised to reprimand Islamabad with the same sanctions the United States has imposed on India." Clinton also signed off on economic sanctions against Pakistan that prohibited billions of dollars in loans from multilateral institutions.[30]
NATO said that the tests were a "dangerous development" and also warned of sanctions.[31]
Economic effects
The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1172 condemning the Indian test and that of Pakistan's. United States, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Canada, and International Monetary Fund, imposed economical sanctions on Pakistan. The Japanese government had called its Ambassador from Pakistan, and suspend its foreign relations with Pakistan.[32] During the time of nuclear testing, it was reported that Pakistan had only $1 Billion in its national treasure, and India had reported by be $29Billion in its State Bank.[32] By comparing to Pakistan's economy, the sanctions imposed by Resolution 1172, was exerted only with marginal effects on India’s economy and technological progress. The IMF had suspend $3Billion aid to Pakistan, and the country's economy was near facing the serious economic default.[32] Sartaj Aziz, an economist and Foreign Minister, and his economics team then briefed Nawaz Sharif that if the economy reaches to the financial default, the terms for the CTBT and NPT would be exercised more tougher on Pakistan, if Pakistan seeks a Bailout plan from the World Bank, the IMF, and the Asian Development Bank, or even the United States.[32]
The economy was already deteriorated, Aziz's team was quickly taking the steps to control the economy.[32] Prime minister Sharif ordered his Finance minister, Sartaj Aziz, to freeze the low foreign exchange reserves.[32] Aziz then asserted that such act would lead to an extreme financial default. Insead, Aziz offered the investors to sell their shares at rate of 46PKR, which was 2PKR was more that time, to the Government in order to avoid the financial default.[32] This resulted in improving the control of the economy and Nawaz Sharif government then gained the control of the economy.[32] Sharif then suspended his capitalist policies and made a move to introduced the socialist economics policies, previously introduced by former Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1970s.[32] Sartaz Aziz was replaced by Sharif as he opposed Sharif's plans to divert an economic recession by taking such steps.[32] Aziz was made Foreign minister and was succedeed by Dr. Ishaq Dar, a career professor of economist who took this daunting charge.[32]
In all, the United States had suspend the economical aid to the Pakistan, but continued the limited economical aid to Pakistan on humanitarian basis.[32] Increasingly, the composition of assistance to Pakistan shifted away from grants toward loans repayable in foreign exchange.[33] All new U.S. additional economic assistance to Pakistan was suspended in May 1998.[33] The sanctions were lifted by President George W. Bush after Pakistan President General Musharraf allied Pakistan with the U.S. in its war on terror.[33] Having improved its finances, the government refused further IMF assistance, and consequently the IMF program was ended.[33]
See also
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto-Prime minister and colloquially known as the father of nuclear weapons programme.
Nawaz Sharif – Pakistan's Prime Minister at that time
^ abKhan, former chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Munir Ahmad (November 24, 1996.). ""Salam passes into History"". The News International (in English). Karachi, Sindh Province: Jang Group of Newspapers. pp. 1–2. ((cite news)): |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
^Shahidur Rehman, Long road to Chagai: §The Group at Wah, pp75-80, [ISBN]
^ abcdeRehman, Shahid-ur (1999), "Chapter 6§Dr. A. Q. Khan: Nothing Succeed like Success", Long Road to Chagai:, vol. 1 (1 ed.), Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory: PB, pp. 49–60, ISBN9698500006((citation)): Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
^ abMubarakmand, former Technical member and former director of Fast-Neutron Physics Group, Samar (2004). ""Pakistan became nuclear state in 1983"". The News International (in English). Karachi, Sindh Province: Jang Group of Newspapers. pp. 1–2. ((cite news)): |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
Pakistan
