PAKISTAN as NUCLEAR POWER

Question 1

Why did Pakistan’s nuclear program face international objections in the 1980s?

Answer 1

• Pakistan had started its nuclear program in the 1970s, but world powers objected to it and pressured Pakistan to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• In 1980, Pakistan agreed to sign only if India did the same.
• Despite this, Benazir Bhutto defended Pakistan’s nuclear program in her speech to the US Congress, as she could not risk harming relations with the US.

Question 2

How did US aid to Pakistan get affected due to its nuclear ambitions in the 1980s?

Answer 2

• The US had been providing military aid to Pakistan after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979.
• However, in 1985, the Pressler Amendment stopped this aid, requiring the American President to declare a country a non-nuclear state to receive assistance.
• Because of Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions, the US stopped its promised economic aid of $4 million.

Question 3

What financial losses did Pakistan suffer when US aid was stopped?

Answer 3

• The stoppage of aid negatively impacted Pakistan as it had been supporting the US war against the Soviets by assisting the Afghan Mujahideen.
• Pakistan had already paid for 28 F-16 warplanes from the US, but the US refused to deliver them or return the money.
• The strained relations between the two countries led to the suspension of several economic development projects in Pakistan.

Question 4

How did the end of the Cold War affect Pakistan’s importance to the US?

Answer 4

• In the early 1990s, after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan became less important to the US.
• In 1992, the US was close to declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism and placing economic sanctions on it.
• Pakistan protested by pointing out India’s nuclear ambitions and reminding the US of its support in the 1990 Gulf War, but the US continued to criticize Pakistan’s nuclear program.

Question 5

What consequences did Pakistan face after conducting nuclear tests in May 1998?

Answer 5

• After India conducted nuclear tests in May 1998, Pakistan responded with its nuclear tests later that month.
• However, this led to severe consequences as many countries, including the US, UK, and Japan, stopped their economic and military aid to Pakistan.
• This caused economic difficulties, forcing the Sharif government to declare a financial emergency, take fresh loans, and freeze foreign currency accounts of Pakistanis in local banks.