ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is currently in the midst of fervent celebrations as the nation commemorates the 25th anniversary of its nuclear tests conducted on May 28, 1998. It commemorates Pakistan’s transformation into the seventh nuclear nation globally and the first Muslim state with a nuclear arsenal, which serves as a deterrent for peaceful purposes. The nuclear tests not only showcased the unwavering determination of the Pakistani nation to safeguard its territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty but also reflected its commitment to preserving strategic balance in South Asia. The visionary statement made by former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, expressing the nation’s willingness to endure hardships to become a nuclear power, played a pivotal role in achieving this significant milestone. On that momentous day, despite external pressures and India’s attempts to disrupt the power balance through its own nuclear tests, the Pakistani leadership fearlessly responded by conducting nuclear tests, effectively restoring equilibrium in South Asia.
