Published: 18th Oct, 2021
Context
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who died recently, was revered in Pakistan as the “father” of the country’s “atom bomb”.
About
About Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan
- In 1975, Khan, working in Holland at a uranium enrichment center as a German-Dutch translator, presented his duties to then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who wanted Pakistan to have its own nuclear program.
- It provided Pakistan’s first centrifuge plans, which set them on the path to uranium enrichment.
- In 1976, he joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's nuclear weapons program.
- He is revered in Pakistan as the “father” of the “atomic bomb” or Nuclear Hero.
- He was convicted by a Dutch court of theft.
- Also, he smuggled nuclear secrets into provinces including North Korea, Iran and Libya.
- For this, he was arrested and placed in a house arrest.
- Due to his contribution, by 1998, Pakistan had conducted its first nuclear tests.
- Pakistan honored him with Nishan-e-Imtiaz titles (Order of Excellence, highest honor in Pakistan) and Mohsin-e Pakistan (Provider of Pakistan).
About India's Nuclear Tests and Nuclear Doctrine
- In 1965, India and the NAM countries proposed specific measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons at the UN Arms Commission. These are:
- Not to pass on Nuclear technology to others
- There is no use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear powers
- UN protection in non-nuclear countries
- Prohibition of nuclear weapons in a nuclear test
- In May 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran with the name "Smiling Buddha".
- In 1998, five nuclear tests were performed as part of the Pokhran-II series.
- These tests were collectively called Operation Shakti.
- In 2003, India adopted its Nuclear Doctrine of 'No First Use' i.e. India will use nuclear weapons only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on its Territory.
- India has an estimated 156 nuclear weapons at the beginning of 2021 compared to 150 at the beginning of last year, while Pakistan has 165 nuclear weapons, up from 160 by 2020 (SIPRI Yearbook 2021).
- Pakistan has not stated a policy of "first use" and little is known about its nuclear program.
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