The recent news of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan’s passing has resurfaced significant discussions in both Pakistan and the international community. Khan, known as the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, has left a significant impact on the global nuclear landscape.
Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan: A Venerated Hero or a Nuclear Thief?
Dr. Khan holds a central place in Pakistan’s nuclear narrative as the figurehead who propelled the nation to nuclear power status, matching India’s own capabilities. This reputation has earned him the title of “father” of Pakistan’s “atom bomb” or nuclear hero.
This perspective, however, is not unilaterally held. Many in the Western world denounced Khan as a nuclear thief or “the greatest nuclear proliferator of all time.”
A Background Story: Dr Khan’s Journey to Nuclear Fame
Khan’s nuclear journey began in 1975 when he was working as a German-Dutch translator at a uranium enrichment facility in Holland. Offering his services to then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Khan became instrumental in the establishment of Pakistan’s nuclear program.
He provided the blueprint for the country’s centrifuges, laying the groundwork for uranium enrichment. Khan joined Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s nuclear weapons efforts in 1976. However, this victory did not come without controversy – Khan was convicted by a Dutch court for theft. His associations with North Korea, Iran, and Libya, where he allegedly smuggled nuclear secrets, led to his arrest and house arrest.
By 1998, largely due to Khan’s contributions, Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests. In honor of his work, Pakistan awarded him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence), the highest civilian honor, and dubbed him a Mohsin-e-Pakistan (Benefactor of Pakistan).
India’s Nuclear Journey: Principles, Tests, and Doctrines
In 1965, India, along with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, proposed principles to the UN Disarmament Commission aimed at preventing nuclear weapons proliferation. These included non-transfer of nuclear technology, a commitment not to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear countries, provision of UN security cover for non-nuclear States, and a ban on nuclear testing.
India’s own nuclear journey took shape with its first nuclear tests in Pokhran, codenamed “Smiling Buddha,” in May 1974. Subsequent tests were conducted as part of Pokhran-II in 1998. Collectively called Operation Shakti, these tests marked significant milestones in India’s nuclear journey.
In 2003, India adopted a ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Doctrine, committing to use nuclear weapons only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on its territory. As of 2021, India was estimated to possess 156 nuclear warheads, up from 150 the previous year, according to the SIPRI Yearbook 2021.
Pakistan’s Nuclear Policy: An Unresolved Mystery
In contrast to India’s open doctrine, Pakistan has not declared a “no first use” policy. The specifics of its nuclear doctrine remain largely unknown. However, the SIPRI Yearbook 2021 estimates that Pakistan possessed 165 warheads in 2021, an increase from 160 in 2020. The ongoing lack of clarity on Pakistan’s nuclear stance further fuels the debate around nuclear power in the region.