Questions and Answers
What was the main obstacle to PAEC's proposal to purchase a plutonium separation plant from France in 1966?
Opposition from the ministries of finance and defence
What did Pakistan hope to achieve through its participation in the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
To reduce nuclear weapons held by nuclear weapon powers
What was the stance of Pakistan's military leadership regarding nuclear weapons in the 1960s?
They believed conventional defence capability was sufficient for deterrence
What was the outcome of the conference of non-nuclear states initiated by Pakistan?
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What did Zulfikar Ali Bhutto say about nuclear weapons in 1966?
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What was the primary aim of Pakistan's nuclear programme started in the mid-1950s?
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What was the capacity of the research reactor obtained from the United States in 1962?
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Which country extended cooperation to Pakistan for the construction of a nuclear power plant?
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What was the primary concern for Pakistan's security in the early 1960s?
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What was the statement made by Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1965?
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Study Notes
Pakistan's Nuclear Programme
- Started in the mid-1950s, aiming to acquire scientific knowledge and technology for peaceful uses in agriculture and health
- Envisaged the construction of power plants to meet the energy needs of the developing economy
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
- Obtained a 5-megawatt research reactor from the United States in 1962 for the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH)
- Under an agreement that provided for inspection and controls by the International Atomic Energy Agency
India's Nuclear Programme
- Acquiring nuclear technology not only for peaceful purposes but also to develop weapons
- Establishing the entire nuclear fuel cycle facilities, including production of bomb-grade plutonium
- Seeking to develop the option to build “the bomb” if necessary
Pakistan's Response
- Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto stated in 1965 that Pakistan would also develop an atomic bomb if India did so, even if it meant sacrificing economic development
- However, Bhutto's rhetoric was not matched with official action
Attempts to Develop Nuclear Capabilities
- In 1966, PAEC proposed purchasing a plutonium separation plant from France, but the proposal was opposed by the ministries of finance and defence
- President Ayub Khan did not favor the idea, believing that a strong conventional defence capability would suffice for deterrence
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
- Pakistan vested hope in the NPT and actively participated in efforts at the United Nations to promote its early conclusion
- Pakistan sought a fair bargain between nuclear-weapons states and non-nuclear states, including progressive reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons
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