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Nuclear tests 1998

Pakistan conducted 5 simultaneous underground nuclear tests at Ras Koh Hills in Chaghi, followed by another test at Kharan Desert, Balochistan.

Pakistan became 7th nation to publicly test nuclear weapons. The tests code name is Chaghi-I. The tests were direct response of the growing pressure in result of India's second nuclear test Pokhran-II. The tests resulted in economic sanctions on both Pakistan and India by the United States, Japan and other countries.

Pakistan second nuclear test code name Chaghi-II was carried out on 30 May 1998 at Kharan Desert in Balochistan.

The nuclear tests were result of collaborative development between Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at Kahuta and Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers (PACE).

Key people

Government

  • Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister. He authorised the tests despite heavy international pressure, including several phone calls from US President Bill Clinton urging him not to test, the last on the eve of the tests.
  • Gohar Ayub Khan, Foreign Minister. He was one of the strongest voices in the cabinet in favour of testing.
  • Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister. He warned the cabinet about the economic cost of sanctions, but later said Pakistan had no option but to test.

The decision was taken in mid-May 1998 at meetings chaired by the Prime Minister with ministers, the service chiefs and the heads of PAEC and KRL.

Military

  • General Jehangir Karamat, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. He backed the decision to test.
  • Major General Zulfikar Ali Khan, who led the army team at the Chaghi test site.

Scientists and engineers

  • Ishfaq Ahmad, Chairman of the PAEC from 1991 to 2001. He directed the PAEC in carrying out both tests and was at the observation post on 28 May.
  • Samar Mubarakmand, Member (Technical) of the PAEC. He led the test team at Chaghi.
  • Abdul Qadeer Khan, head of KRL. KRL enriched the uranium used in the weapons programme, and he was at the observation post on 28 May.

Other scientists and engineers in the test teams included:

  • Irfan Burney (PAEC)
  • Anwar Ali (PAEC)
  • Hafeez Qureshi (PAEC)
  • Masud Ahmad (PAEC)
  • Tasneem M. Shah (KRL)

Sources