Pakistan’s nuclear program has been a subject of significant international attention and concern. In May 1998, Pakistan conducted a series of underground nuclear tests in the Chagai Hills region of Balochistan, marking its entry into the group of nuclear-armed nations. These tests made Pakistan the seventh country in the world to possess nuclear weapons, following the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, and India.
The tests were conducted in response to similar tests carried out by neighboring India earlier in the same month. The nuclear tests by both countries escalated tensions in the region and raised international concerns about nuclear proliferation and stability in South Asia.
Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear weapons has had profound implications for regional security dynamics, particularly in its ongoing rivalry with India. The nuclear capabilities of both countries have added a layer of complexity to their bilateral relations and have contributed to ongoing strategic competition and conflict resolution efforts in the region.