ISLAMABAD (APP): Indo-Pak Nuclear Race: A glimpse from history
The history of acquiring the modern nuclear technology for exercising maximum restraint and for purely peaceful purposes, entails commitment, patriotism and strong obligation on the part of its leadership, for territorial integrity of the country.
Pakistan seized the decisive moment to develop nuclear technology during General Ayub Khan's regime with the help of Professor Abdus Salam expertise.
The programme, however, was formally initiated during the time of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after a meeting of physicists and engineers at Multan in January 1972, shortly after the 1971 War.
India tested its "device" for the first time in 1974 which compelled Pakistan to expedite its nuclear programme with renewed commitment.
Prior to its first nuke test in 1974, India had already imposed three wars on Pakistan. But the things headed towards alarming proportions once again in 1994 when, it tested the medium range Prithvi missile. thus setting the alarming bells to ring. There were clear indications that such missile and nuclear technology could be used against Pakistan.
After deployment of Indian missiles in June 1997 on their western border and the troops' movement on both sides of the border led to credence that such murkier state of affairs could break an imminent war between the two countries.
Obfuscating the scene further, on May 11, 1998 India tested three of its nukes followed by yet two others on May 13 to boast of its strategic strength in the region.