The nuclear weapons tests of Pakistan refers to a test programme directed towards the development of
nuclear explosives
A nuclear explosive is an explosive device that derives its energy from nuclear reactions. Almost all nuclear explosive devices that have been designed and produced are nuclear weapons intended for warfare.
Other, non-warfare, applications for nu ...
and investigation of the
effects of nuclear explosions. The programme was suggested by
Munir Ahmad Khan
Munir Ahmad Khan (; 20 May 1926 – 22 April 1999), , was a Pakistani nuclear engineer who is credited, among others, with being the "father of the atomic bomb program" of Pakistan for their leading role in developing their nation's nuclear we ...
, chairman of the
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) () is a federally funded independent governmental agency, concerned with research and development of nuclear power, promotion of nuclear science, energy conservation and the peaceful use of nuclear techn ...
(PAEC), as early as 1977.
The first
subcritical testing was carried out in 1983 by PAEC, codenamed
Kirana-I, and continued until the 1990s under the government of the
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The prime minister of Pakistan (, Roman Urdu, romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Cabinet of Pakistan, cabinet, desp ...
,
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) was a Pakistani politician who served as the 11th prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. She was also the first woman elected to head a democratic governmen ...
.
Further claims of conducting subcritical tests at
Kahuta were made in 1984 by the
Kahuta Research Laboratories
The Dr. A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories (shortened as KRL), is a federally funded research and development laboratory located in Kahuta at a short distance from Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan. Established in 1976, the laboratory is best know ...
(KRL) but were dismissed by the Government of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Government, under Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif, authorized the programme jointly under PAEC and KRL, assisted by the
Corps of Engineers in 1998. There were six nuclear tests performed under this programme, codenamed
Chagai-I, and
Chagai-II. After the
Prime Minister of India
The prime minister of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Union Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers, despite the president of ...
,
Atal Vajpayee made a state visit to Pakistan to meet with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, both countries signed a nuclear testing control treaty, the ''
Lahore Declaration'' in 1999.
Testing series
Chagai-I
The Pakistan's Chagai-I nuclear test series was a single
nuclear test conducted in 1998.
Chagai II
The Pakistan's Chagai II nuclear test series was a single
nuclear test conducted in 1998. These tests followed the ''
Chagai-I'' series .
The Pakistan test series summary table is
below.
The detonations in the Pakistan's ''Chagai-II'' series are listed below:
Summary
References
Sources
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{{refend
Pakistani nuclear weapons testing
Military history of Pakistan
History of science and technology in Pakistan