Prof. Dr. Arshad Munir
During my service in Nigeria, I once, paid a visit to the sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III along with an international delegation comprising senior Pakistani, Indian, African, American etc. scholars. As Sultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslims. After introducing myself, I spoke briefly about Pakistan’s situation and problems, describing Pakistan as similar to Nigeria. I was surprised when the Sultan not only responded me in Urdu language but also talked in favour of Pakistan. He said that not only Pakistanis but also Nigerian Muslims are proud of Pakistan. I can still remember his words “You people are lucky to have a most powerful and brave military, the only Islamic nuclear power in the world, the only country to have been created in the name of Islam”.
Undeniably, the military has long been acknowledged for its role in defending nation, safeguarding interests and playing a decisive role in the modern history of Pakistan, The armed forces’ credibility and efficient professionalism have been demonstrated especially through successful counterterrorism operations. Also, Pakistan is one of nine states that possess nuclear weapons. Pakistan began developing nuclear weapons in January 1972 under former Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and succeeded the target on 28th may, 1998 by conducting five simultaneous underground nuclear tests performed at Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Balochistan Province under the leadership of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The nuclear tests made Pakistan the seventh nation to possess nuclear weapons and the first in the Muslim world. Pakistan has exploded nuclear devices in response to India’s nuclear tests conducted on May 11 and 13 in 1998. The decision to conduct tests was very tough and threatening. In talks with the then PM Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, offered a lucrative aid package in an attempt to get Pakistan to refrain from nuclear testing, and sent high level civic-military delegations led by Strobe Talbott and General Anthony Zinni to Pakistan to lobby against the tests. But the public and republic including Army, PAEC, and even the then opposition leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto were on same page and spoke emphatically in favour of Pakistani atomic tests which stimulated Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to say “Dhamaka kar dein“. The U.S. responded to the nuclear tests by imposing sanctions including termination of U.S. development assistance; termination of U.S. Government sales of defence articles and services; termination of foreign military financing; denial of credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance by the U.S. Government; opposition to loans or assistance by international financial institutions; prohibition on U.S. bank loans or credit to Pakistan; and prohibition on exports of “specific goods and technology. Also, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Canada, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed economic sanctions on Pakistan. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran congratulated Pakistan where major celebrations took place. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto famously said in 1965 that “if India builds the bomb, we will eat grass or leaves, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan once claimed that Pakistan’s nuclear security is the strongest in the world and there is no such capability in any other country for radical elements to steal or possess nuclear weapons.
Youm-e-Takbir is celebrated as a national day in Pakistan on May 28 in commemoration of Chagai-I and Chagai-II series of nuclear tests. The word “Youm-e-Takbir” has its own significance. The Government of Pakistan after successful test, asked for proposals from the nation to decide a name by which the day should be celebrated. A country wide campaign was launched to select the name for this particular day. Thousands of names were proposed by millions of Pakistanis. This name was suggested by more than one person. I was also among the participants who suggested the name for this day and received an appreciation cum thanks letter from the commander of the event i.e. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. I would like to conclude that the day & decision was indeed the reflection of courage of the commander and unity and trust of the public & public servants. God may grant our rulers more courage, confidence and unity than what was expressed on May 28 for great Pakistan.
The author is a professor of Islamic Studies at Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan.
