The way the nation enthusiastically observed ‘Yaum-e-Takbeer’ this year and the messages released by the national leadership has transmitted a clear message that the nuclear capability of the country, which has served as a strong deterrence against the evil-minded enemy, will be maintained at all costs. President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, said the nuclear tests conducted 28 years ago established Pakistan’s deterrence capability and made the country the seventh nuclear power in the world. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s nuclear capability and the preparedness of its armed forces remain a decisive deterrent against enemy aggression. Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu declared that Pakistan’s strategic capability remains a sacred national trust and a guarantor of peace, stability, territorial integrity and credible deterrence in the region.
There are no two opinions that May 28 was a proud moment in the history of the country as on this day in 1998 Pakistan carried out its nuclear tests to become a formal nuclear power transmitting a chilling message to the enemy, which started hurling threats after its nuclear explosions of 1974 and 1998, that aggression will have a big price. Keen readers of Pakistan’s nuclear programme will bear testimony to the fact that Islamabad proved its peace credentials both before and after detonating its nuclear device as is evident from numerous proposals floated during different periods aimed at promoting the cherished goal of preventing nuclear and conventional arms race in South Asia. In view of rejection of all such proposals and established aggressive designs of India, it can be said without fear of being contradicted that the decision to go nuclear was a prudent one but due to discriminatory and hostile behaviour of some of the powers, the successive governments adopted an apologetic attitude towards observance of ‘Yoaum-e-Takbeer’ causing dampening effect on the overall morale of the nation. In this backdrop, the present coalition Government deserves credit for its decision to celebrate the anniversary of the nuclear tests with dignity and declaring clear intentions to maintain the country’s nuclear capability as it made the defence invincible. This is understandable because of the changed regional and global environment as well as the fact that the parties in power contributed the lion’s share in conceiving and developing the nuclear programme of Pakistan. The PPP can legitimately claim that its founding Chairman Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the architect of the programme whose visionary decision to go nuclear at all costs made the real difference in the strategic landscape of South Asia. Similarly, credit also goes to the successive civilian and military governments for pursuing the programme despite venomous propaganda, sanctions and penalties. However, one must acknowledge the right and courageous decision of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to test the nuclear device when an opportunity was provided by the enemy in 1998 by initiating the second round of nuclear tests. Pakistan’s counter tests not only demonstrated the resolve of the nation to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, but also reflected the desire to preserve strategic balance in South Asia. It is also important to note that the present military leadership is a strong believer of Pakistan first policy when it comes to matters of security and defence and this was highlighted during the war with India in May last year and precision strikes in Afghanistan to target terrorists and their backers. The language of the messages by the civilian and military leadership is particularly important as it declares the resolve not to make any compromise on the nuclear programme of the country as it has effectively served the cause of defence and peace in the region. While celebrating the nuclear capability of the country, the nation is surely proud of the contributions made by legendary nuclear scientist Dr. A.Q. Khan and heroes like Dr. Samar Mubarakmand and thousands of engineers, scientists and technicians in making Pakistan a nuclear power and for their hard work to keep the deterrence relevant in the changing regional and global scenarios. These real heroes should continue to get not only verbal recognition of their role and contribution but also financial and service incentives as before.
