Youm-e-Takbeer: Pakistan marks 22nd anniversary of successful nuclear tests

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In this handout photograph released by the ISPR on February 10, 2013, a Pakistani Short Range Surface to Surface Missile Hatf IX (NASR) is launched from a multi tube launcher in undisclosed location. Photo: AFP/File

Pakistan is marking the 22nd anniversary of successfully conducting nuclear tests today.

On this day in 1998, responding to Indian nuclear tests, Pakistan carried out five successful tests of its own in Chaghi, Balochistan followed by another one on May 30th in Kharan.

Each year, the day, Youm-e-Takbeer is celebrated to commemorate the historic day when the country conducted the nuclear tests in 1998 as a response, in self-defence, to the nuclear tests and accompanying hostile posturing by its neighbour India. 

After the tests were conducted successfully, Pakistan became the seventh nation in the world to possess nuclear weapons and the first Islamic country to do so.

On the occasion, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said, “Salute to Nawaz Sharif as no complexity and no sacrifice could come in his way to serve the nation and none will God willing shall become an obstacle in his endeavours.”

She added that Youm-e-Takbeer reminds us every year of Sharif’s allegiance to the land; the tale that started with loyalties and culminates with fake sentences.

“Ask each and every atom of the land and every drop of flowing waters of the rivers that it was who, decorated this orchard, made the frontiers and airs of the country invincible. And it was who, after sacrificing everything is still honouring his commitments with the nation and will continue to do so,” Maryam added.