ISLAMABAD: Pakistan had planned to conduct a nuclear test in 1984, but General Ziaul Haq opposed the idea as it would have put a stop to international aid Pakistan was receiving due to the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
“We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, however; then president General Zia had opposed the move,” said pioneer of the country’s nuclear programme, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
He told a gathering on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer that General Zia was of the opinion that the world would stop military aid if Pakistan opted for the nuclear test.
Dr Qadeer said that without his services Pakistan would never have been the first Muslim nuclear nation. “We were able to achieve the capability under very tough circumstances, but we did it.”
