Pakistan is celebrating Youm-e-Takbeer – its 22nd anniversary of becoming a nuclear armed country today.
May 28 is celebrated as Youm-e-Takbeer (day of greatness) throughout the country every year to commemorate Pakistan’s achievement of becoming one of the eight official nuclear armed countries of the world, and the first and only Muslim country to do so.
On this day March 28 1998, Pakistan conducted five successful nuclear tests in Chaghi, Balochistan followed by another nuclear test on 30th May in Kharan, elevating Pakistan to the seventh country to mark such achievement.
The country was under immense political and diplomatic pressure from the world to abandon its nuclear program and do not go forth with the nuclear tests. However, after India conducted its first nuclear test named ‘smiling Budha’ on 18 May 1974, followed by five nuclear tests in May 1998 in Rajasthan , Pakistan was forced to retaliate and went on to conduct six nuclear tests to show Pakistan’s willingness and vigor to respond to any Indian aggression.
The tests were followed by several economic and trade sanctions from international organizations and world powers, however, the tests have proved to be the core aspect of Pakistan’s national security doctrine and have proved to be a successful and effective deterrent to Indian aggression throughout the years.
