Pakistan marks Youm-e-Takbeer with sense of pride and valor
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The nation is celebrating 25th anniversary of the Youm-e-Takbeer when the country conducted its first nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 to make its defence capabilities invincible and ensure regional stability through power equilibrium, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
The day brought a revival for the entire Pakistani nation and became a moment of pride for the Muslim Ummah.
The day, remembered as Youm-e-Takbeer is being celebrated every year across the country as a day of national pride and thanksgivings which made Pakistan the seventh nuclear nation of the world and the first Muslim state, having the nuclear arsenal in its defence stockpile to exercise maximum deterrence for peaceful purposes.
The tests not only demonstrated the resolve of the Pakistani nation to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, but also the desire to preserve strategic balance in South Asia.
The historic statement of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that they would starve but transform the country into a nuclear power, led to achievement of this milestone.
On that day, the Pakistani leadership, notwithstanding external pressures and Indian hegemonic designs to tilt power balance through its nuclear tests, opted courageously in 1998 to respond, and restored the power balance in South Asia by conducting nuclear tests.
With such tactical and sagacious response by Pakistan on May 28, 1998, it became “a red letter day” in the country’s history, silencing the belligerent ruling junta in its neighbourhood that was clamouring with ill-conceived expansionist designs.
Youm-e-Takbeer, which literally means “the day when Allah’s name was exalted” regularly infuses new verve into the high soaring spirits of a nation which refused to cower down by the repeated threats of war mongering mindset in its neighourhood.
The history of acquiring the modern nuclear technology for exercising maximum restraint and for purely peaceful purposes, entails commitment, patriotism and strong obligation on the part of Pakistani leadership, for territorial integrity of the country.
India had tested its “device” for the first time in 1974 which compelled Pakistan to expedite its nuclear programme with renewed commitment.
Amid slogans of “Allah-o-Akbar”, Pakistan conducted its first test on May 28, 1998, at the RasKoh hills in the Chaghai District of Balochistan.
But resisting the mounting external pressures to restrain and not to respond in kind, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif went for the bold decision to test the Pakistani nukes and thus balancing the strategic slanting power in the region.
Pakistan is committed to the promotion of environment of peace and stability in South Asia, while preserving its capability to ward off aggression or adventurism in any form.
It is a partner in international efforts to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime based on the principles of non-discrimination and equal security for all states.
It adheres to the latest international standards on export controls and maintains highest standards of nuclear safety and security.
President Alvi felicitates nation
In his Youm-e-Takbeer message, President Dr Arif Ali has congratulated the nation on the occasion of 25th anniversary of nuke tests.
He said that the achievement of nuclear capability was indeed a remarkable feat for which country’s scientists, engineers, political and military leadership of the time deserved high commendation.
He said on this day 25 years ago, in response to India’s nuclear tests, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests that was essential for maintaining the balance of power in the region.
“We must highly appreciate our political and military leadership that took wise decision at that time to achieve nuclear capability making defence of the country unassailable,” President Secretariat Press Wing in a press release quoted the president as saying.
On this day, he said, the whole nation paid tribute to the contributions of their eminent engineers and scientists who made Pakistan a nuclear power within a short period of time.
For this, our whole nation was indebted to all those who played their part in making Pakistan the 1st Islamic nuclear power, he added.
The president further said “On this day, let us pledge to make Pakistan a stronger country by investing in the intellectual development of our people and strengthening our cyber- security to ensure our defense.”
While praying for the country and nation, the president expressed that with their collective efforts, they would be able to make Pakistan’s defence impregnable.
PM says no compromise on country’s sovereignty
Meanwhile in his message on the Youm-e-Takbeer, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the country’s defence, sovereignty, national dignity and freedom was above everything to the nation and no one had the courage to take away its freedom.
The prime minister said the day reminded that for the defence, solidarity and national interests, they would not budge from any sacrifice.
He said the historic day was a clear declaration of ‘no compromise over country’s sovereignty, and defence’.
“Twenty five years ago today, the people of Pakistan announced the invincibility of their defense by detonating five nuclear explosions in response to India’s nuclear explosions,” he added.
The prime minister stressed that they would have to move ahead with the same spirit as manifested on Youm-e-Takbir to attain economic sovereignty and self-dependence.
He underlined that it was a day to get united for the solidarity of the country as it was the main strength of the nation and expressed his determination that with such unity, hard work and staunch faith, they would turn Pakistan into ‘an economic power’.
The prime minister paid tributes to the patriotism of then prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who raised the head of Pakistan among the comity of nations with pride, adding the former prime minister had rejected all the pressures and temptations of billions of dollars and made Pakistan, the seventh nuclear world power and the first Islamic country possessing nuclear deterrence.
He also lauded Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and also paid rich tributes to Benazir Bhutto Shaheed who, as an opposition leader backed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision of nuclear tests in 1998.
“I want to tell the youth that there were deep political differences between the government and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but setting aside all the differences for the sake of the country, she supported the government,” he added.
The prime minister said the armed forces of the country had rendered valuable services for the country’s nuclear programme which had been a golden chapter in its history.
He also appreciated Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, (Mohsin e Pakistan), all scientists, engineers and other individuals who contributed to Pakistan’s atomic proramme.
The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and other brotherly and friendly countries that had helped Pakistan during the economic sanctions.
The prime minister said the mountains of Chagi still echoed with the same resolve, and Balochistan province still bore distinction with regard to defence of the country.
PM Shehbaz said on May 28 1998, the whole world was on the other side putting pressures, threats and giving temptations, but the leadership of the country, with the support of nation and the opposition, made the impossible, possible.
“We also faced economic difficulties. The unity of the nation is the real nuclear power of Pakistan,” he added.
Bilawal says nuclear program great gift by ZAB to nation
In his Twitter message on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, PPP Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the nuclear programme is a great gift by the Leader of the People, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, to the Pakistani nation.
Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto had said that we would survive by eating grass, but we would continue to make Pakistan a nuclear power.
Bilawal said that making Pakistan a nuclear power was the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto protected and advanced the country's nuclear programme as country’s prime minister.
When India detonated, then opposition leader Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto stood firm and demanded that the government immediately detonate nuclear weapons.
Mohtarma fully supported the Nawaz Sharif government despite being in the opposition on the issue of nuclear explosion.
Regarding the nuclear programme, Pakistan Peoples Party is still following the footsteps of its martyred leaders.
Foreign Minister Bilawal said that Pakistan is strictly following the policy of minimum credible defence capability. He said that Pakistan's nuclear programme is for peace and stability in the region.
The PPP Chairman saluted all the scientists associated with the nuclear programme of the country.