Nuclear Power or Nuclear Terrorist?
Pakistan commonly claims that its nuclear tests were a response to India’s nuclear experiments. However, the reality is that Pakistan had decided to build a nuclear bomb even before India’s tests.
According to Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, head of the team that carried out the Chagai-I nuclear tests and a member of Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Commission, in 1972, then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto convened the country’s scientists in Multan, where “we truly took an oath to develop nuclear weapons.”
Pakistan’s creation was the result of an unnatural partition, based on religious hatred and the preservation of so-called ideological borders. This foundation has made it a permanently militarized state that constantly fabricates external enemies to justify its existence. Without such manufactured threats, the Pakistan Army would struggle to confront internal contradictions. The state is established on the land of oppressed nations who seek freedom — and the Baloch nation is also engaged in a struggle for its liberation.
Chagai: The Nuclear Testing Ground
On May 28, 1998, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in the Ras Koh Mountain range of Chagai District, located opposite the village of Chatar in the Dosatain Wad area, which spans 344 square kilometers.
This region was officially declared barren, but in reality, not only are thousands of people settled here, the mountains also serve as a vital source of natural water and local livelihood.
According to the 2023 census, Chagai has a population of over 269,000. The region’s land, mountains, streams, and underground water reserves are essential for the local population, their livestock, and agriculture.
Nuclear Fallout and State Denial
After the nuclear tests, radiation effects in Chagai and adjacent areas led to a rise in cancer, skin diseases, and respiratory illnesses. It is also claimed that underground water reserves were contaminated by radiation. Local media outlets and organizations highlighted these issues, but the state not only avoided investigation, it also refused to assist the victims. In truth, these were not mere nuclear tests conducted in Balochistan — they were a nuclear assault on Balochistan.
Militarization and Regional Backwardness
Under the pretext of defense and military preparedness, Pakistan continues to divert public resources toward military institutions. The result:
Education, healthcare, and employment have deteriorated
The public faces poverty and deprivation
Interference and instability are spread in neighboring countries
The claim of being a nuclear power and threats of nuclear attacks on neighbors pose a constant danger to the entire region
Appeal to the International Community
Nuclear weapons in the hands of an unstable state like Pakistan are a threat to global peace. For the protection of humanity, it is essential that:
Pakistan be stripped of its nuclear capabilities under international supervision
Independent investigations and aid initiatives be launched for the victims of nuclear tests in Balochistan
This is not just a matter of Balochistan — it is a question concerning the safety of all humanity.
Baloch National Movement (BNM)
☢️ #NukeAftermathInBalochistan
