Editorial
May 28, Youm-e-Takbeer, marks one of Pakistan’s most significant milestones—the day it became a nuclear power in 1998. This achievement ensured the country’s credible minimum deterrence and established strategic balance in South Asia. However, what should be a symbol of collective national pride often becomes a victim of partisan appropriation and political point-scoring.
The path to nuclear capability was neither swift nor shaped by a single individual. It was a product of decades of consistent national will, technical brilliance, strategic necessity, and political courage. From the visionary leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the political foundation for nuclear ambition in the 1970s, to the brave decision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to conduct nuclear tests in the face of immense international pressure—every step was part of a continuum. The role of Pakistan’s scientific community, led by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and supported by a network of engineers, technicians, and military planners, was no less monumental.
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Today, attempts to reduce this national triumph into partisan ownership disrespect the efforts of countless unsung heroes. While historical acknowledgment is necessary, it should not be manipulated to create divisions.
Youm-e-Takbeer should serve not as a platform for rivalry but as a reminder of what unified purpose can achieve. In an age of global insecurity, Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence remains a cornerstone of its sovereignty and security. It is time political actors recognise that strategic accomplishments must rise above electoral gains.
True national maturity lies in recognising collective achievements and defending them from internal polarization. Let this day remind us that unity, not division, built Pakistan’s nuclear strength—and only unity can sustain it in the future.
