On May 28th, 2024, Pakistan commemorates a pivotal moment in its history – the 20th anniversary of its successful nuclear tests in the Chagai district of Balochistan. This milestone marked Pakistan’s entry into the elite club of nuclear weapon states. The tests were a response to India’s series of nuclear tests on May 11th and 13th, 1998, which posed an existential threat to Pakistan’s national security. Notably, India had previously conducted its first nuclear test, codenamed ‘Smiling Buddha’, in May 1974. Pakistan’s nuclear tests demonstrated its capability and resolve to defend itself, ensuring a strategic balance in the region and cementing its position as a responsible nuclear weapon state.
In May 1998, India conducted a series of five nuclear tests, which led to a surge of nationalism and a misplaced sense of nuclear supremacy among Indian politicians and the public. They erroneously believed that they had established a monopoly over nuclear technology and capability in the region. However, Pakistan’s swift and decisive response on May 28, 1998, shattered this illusion. With the successful detonation of six nuclear explosions, Pakistan demonstrated its equal capability and expertise, effectively countering India’s nuclear brinksmanship and restoring the regional strategic balance. This bold move not only silenced India’s nuclear saber-rattling but also earned Pakistan its rightful place among the nuclear weapon states.
India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998 posed an existential threat to Pakistan, leaving it no choice but to restore the balance of power in the region by maintaining a deterrence equilibrium. Pakistan’s development of nuclear capabilities was a direct response to India’s conventional military superiority and a means to counter its security concerns. The security dilemma between the two nations has been operational for decades, with India’s 1974 nuclear test being a significant factor in Pakistan’s perception of threat. This led Pakistan to adopt a policy of nuclear ambiguity, widely justified by security analysts as a necessary response to the Indian threat. When India conducted further nuclear tests in 1998, Pakistan’s government, led by President Nawaz Sharif, emphasized that failing to respond in kind would have left the country vulnerable to its aggressive neighbor. In his speech in May 1998, President Sharif made it clear that acquiring nuclear capability was crucial for Pakistan’s security and survival. Pakistan’s retaliatory nuclear tests in May 1998 were a necessary response to India’s nuclear brinksmanship, ensuring a strategic balance in the region and affirming Pakistan’s commitment to its national security.
On May 28, 1998, Pakistan made history by becoming the 7th nuclear weapon state in the world and the 1st country in the Muslim world to possess nuclear weapon capability, following a series of successful nuclear tests. This monumental achievement is commemorated as Youm-e-Takbeer, or ‘The Day of Greatness’, in recognition of Pakistan’s courageous decision to prioritize its national security despite intense international pressure from the United States and other Western nations. In the aftermath of the nuclear tests, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions on both India and Pakistan. Nevertheless, the nuclear explosions marked the “Overt Nuclearization” of South Asia, and both countries were subsequently acknowledged as de facto nuclear weapon states, solidifying their position in the global nuclear landscape. This milestone has since been celebrated as a testament to Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to its sovereignty and defense.
The concept of nuclear deterrence and strategic stability in South Asia has its roots in the pre-nuclearization era, when debates surrounding India and Pakistan’s ambiguous nuclear capabilities first emerged. However, with the establishment of a deterrence equilibrium and strategic stability, albeit fragile, both nations have successfully maintained crisis stability over the past two decades. This has ensured that despite several military confrontations and skirmishes, including the Kargil War and the Indo-Pakistani standoff in 2001-2002, no conflict has escalated into a full-scale war. The possession of nuclear power weapons by both countries has served as a deterrent, preventing the crossing of the threshold from conventional to nuclear warfare. This delicate balance of power has allowed Pakistan and India to navigate complex geopolitical tensions, averting catastrophic consequences and preserving regional peace and security.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2018 report, India has emerged as the largest arms importer globally, aggressively pursuing a military modernization program aimed at bolstering its regional power status. India’s nuclear arsenal is being rapidly expanded and modernized, comprising tactical weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles, and anti-ballistic missile systems. In contrast, Pakistan’s political and military leadership has consistently advocated for arms control and regional peace, recognizing the devastating consequences of a nuclear arms race. To prevent a catastrophic nuclear escalation in South Asia, Pakistan has proposed several initiatives, including a 1974 proposal to declare the region a “nuclear weapon-free zone” and a post-1998 proposal for a “Pakistan-India strategic restraint regime”. Regrettably, India has consistently rebuffed these proposals, forcing Pakistan to focus on maintaining a balance of power in the region by developing sophisticated nuclear capabilities to ensure its national security and deter aggression.
Pakistan’s nuclear weapon and related technology play a crucial role in strengthening its economic and defense base, which is essential for achieving national security objectives. In terms of economy and energy security, Pakistan has a modest nuclear power program that utilizes peaceful nuclear power and technology to ensure long-term energy security. As an energy-deficient country, Pakistan focuses on energy security to meet its socio-economic demands. Additionally, Pakistan’s nuclear weapon capability has made its defense impregnable, providing a strong deterrent against potential aggressors.
However, despite possessing nuclear weapons, Pakistan’s political standing in the global arena has not improved significantly. While Pakistan has the option to use its nuclear weapons as a negotiating tool to achieve its political objectives, the primary rationale behind its military nuclear program remains the same – to counter India’s conventional military superiority. This rationale has remained consistent over the years, driving Pakistan’s nuclear weapons development and modernization efforts. By maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent, Pakistan aims to ensure its national security and prevent any potential aggression from India or other regional actors.
In conclusion
The 20th anniversary of Pakistan’s nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, marks a historic milestone in the country’s successful and calculated response to counter India’s aggression. Through the operational preparedness of its Strategic Forces, Pakistan has maintained peace and stability in the region, despite India’s conventional military superiority. Every year, Pakistan observes Youm-e-Takbeer (The Day of Greatness) to commemorate its decision to prioritize national security, maintain strategic stability, and deter external aggression, despite immense international pressure and the threat of crippling sanctions.
The utility of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons is evident in the fact that, despite multiple escalations and tensions between India and Pakistan over the past 20 years, India has not dared to launch a full-scale attack on Pakistan. This is a testament to the effectiveness of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent, which has ensured the country’s safety, security, and durable peace, as well as protection from any external aggression. The possession of nuclear weapons has provided Pakistan with a sense of security and stability, allowing it to focus on its economic and social development, and maintain its sovereignty and independence in the face of regional and global challenges.
