Pak could have been ‘nuclear power’ by 1984: Abdul Qadeer Khan

Islamabad: The father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan on Saturday said the country could have become a nuclear power as early as 1984 if the move was not opposed by the then President General Zia-ul-Haq.

“It was one of our biggest plans to carry out nuclear tests in 1984 but, the proposal was not accepted by the then President,” said Qadeer while speaking at an event to mark the anniversary of the country’s first nuclear tests, which were taken out under his supervision in 1984.

Highlights:

• According to Khan, Haq opposed the nuclear testing as he believed that world powers would militarily intervene.
• Khan said Pakistan had the ability to target the Indian capital from Kahuta near Rawalpindi within five minutes.
• Khan was much peeved in 2004 when he was forced to accept responsibility for proliferation and lived under semi house arrest.