List of nuclear weapons tests of Pakistan
The nuclear weapons tests of Pakistan refers to a test program directed towards the development of nuclear explosives and investigation of the effects of nuclear explosions. The program was suggested by Munir Ahmad Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, as early as 1976.
Construction of the weapon-testing sites took place in 1976–77 under the guidelines of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers as a civil engineering consultant and lead.
The first subcritical testing was carried out in 1983 by PAEC, codenamed Kirana-I, and continued upon under the second administration of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Subcritical testing, scientific viability and engineering validation of devices functationality were carried out in Kirana by Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology, Metallurgical Laboratory in Wah, and the Khan Research Laboratories in Kahuta but it was ultimately the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's responsibility to undertake and carried out the tests as a civilian oversight agency.
In a view of establishing the balance of power with India in South Asia, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signed executive orders that authorize the nuclear weapons testing in May 1998. Total of six devices were fired in steel-iron tunnels constructed by the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers as early as 1977.
In 1999, Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee made a state visit to Pakistan to meet with the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore and which saw the both countries signed a nuclear testing control treaty, the Lahore Declaration in 1999.
Testing series
Chagai-I
The Pakistan's Chagai-I nuclear test series was a single nuclear test conducted in 1998.Chagai II
The Pakistan's Chagai II nuclear test series was a single nuclear test conducted in 1998. These tests followed the Chagai-I series.The Pakistan test series summary table is below.
The detonations in the Pakistan's Chagai-II series are listed below: