Part - I
Random thoughts
The six nuclear explosions that jolted the Chaghai Hills on May 28 and May 30 in 1998 left lasting imprints on contemporary world history. Not only did they set right the balance of power in the region, but also foiled the hegemonic designs of India and ensured that Pakistan had an impregnable defence.
In short, it was a moment to cherish that reflected national pride and symbolised the assertion of strength by a nation that refused to oblige to world powers by submitting to their dictates. It indicated the determination of 180 million Pakistanis to defend every inch of their beloved motherland. It gave a befitting reply to the Indian initiative and clearly showed what we were capable of. It signalled the arrival a nuclear Pakistan – the seventh atomic power across the globe.
Contemporary history has very few parallels to match the metamorphosis that took place in Chaghai on that hot and sunny day. To me, that day means even more. It gave me a sense of fulfillment at having completed the arduous task that had started some 25 years earlier at the Prime Minister’s House in Rawalpindi where I was assigned to initiate Pakistan’s military nuclear programme by Bhutto.
On July 31, 1976, Engineering Research Laboratories, an autonomous body, was established with the task of setting up an indigenous uranium enrichment plant and providing Pakistan with nuclear capability. Since we had very little at hand – neither a basic and dependable infrastructure nor mature scientific and technical manpower – we had to start from scratch. However, we did have the determination to achieve our goals and the spirit to serve the nation.
Looking back, it seems like a miracle that the target was achieved within the short span of seven years.
Very few people know that, though we detonated the devices in 1998, we had already mastered the technology as early as 1983. Not only had we conducted cold tests in 1983, but we were ready to test our devices in 1984. I had informed President Zia in writing on December 10, 1984 that we were in a position to detonate a nuclear device at a week’s notice. Had the government at that time not been pressurised by the looming Afghan crisis and the subsequent Geneva Accords, we would have shown the world what we had up our sleeve.
Ours was indeed a historic achievement. A country which could not even make sewing needles, good bicycles and durable metalled roads had mastered one of the latest and most difficult technologies – and that too all on its own through the labour of its own people and resources and despite embargoes. This shows that where there is a will, there is always a way. We ventured to master a technology that many experts at that time had deemed impossible to achieve. Nowadays, technology is the most potent defence of the motherland and the development of this particular technology has ensured the security of Pakistan for all times to come.
This fateful episode in our national history is the finest example of the role of modern technology in ensuring national prosperity and security. Pakistan’s nuclear programme is not only a guarantee to regional peace, but is also an instrument of economic and scientific activity within the country. The machinery that we acquired, the plants that were set up and the human resource development that took place at Kahuta were all equally beneficial while various other projects to produce conventional weapons for the armed forces were set up. This infrastructure also helped local industry by offering services and consultancy.
All this reminds me of what Gen Charles de Gaulle, the late French president, once said when asked about the usefulness of starting his own nuclear programme in the presence of Britain, Nato and the US’s nuclear umbrella. He said: “A nuclear programme gives you a technical rub-off that makes you compete on the world market in a thousand other ways”.
The reason for narrating this success story is to demonstrate the fact that technology begets technology. However, there is a need to invest in it. The rapid advancement that overtook the Western world in the wake of the Industrial Revolution bears testimony to this fact as does the aftermath of World War II, which forced the Western powers to invest in the field of research in order to attain maximum technological gains. These gains did not only translate into immediate victories on the battlefront. Once the war was over, an enviable infrastructure for an unprecedented technological breakthrough was readily available.
Seen from this perspective, it hurts to note that the priorities of our nation in general – and our policymakers in particular – have not been technology-friendly. While there has been a lot of emphasis on the fact that we had no infrastructure at the time of Pakistan’s Independence and that the infant state had inherited many problems, the time has come that we rethink this notion realistically and maturely. The state of Pakistan was born amid blood, brutalities, miseries and a massive exodus of civilians.
At the same time, we inherited a valuable public sector in the shape of effective administrative machinery, a network of major road and railways – with Lahore’s enviable Baghpanpura Workshops – a state-of-the-art irrigation system and prestigious colleges and universities like Government College Lahore and Punjab University.
Let’s compare these trends to the conditions in countries like China and Korea that attained independence after us. These countries inherited virtually nothing except complete chaos and destruction. Therefore, it can safely be said that, at the time of our independence, we stood a better chance of progress than most of today’s Asian Tigers. However, after more than 60 years of independence, we have regressed to a position of under-development while our eastern neighbours have surpassed us in terms of technological advancement. The painful question is: why?
PS: In a recent letter published in an Urdu daily on May 30, there has been some misunderstanding related to my pension. When I retired in 2001, my pension was Rs4,467. In July 2007, the SPD arranged a special pension for me that is equivalent to the salary of a BPS-22 officer. It has since been increased according to the government’s rules. We are thankful for this generosity.
To be continued
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khangmail.com