Pakistan acquired nuclear weapons through a secretive and determined program that began in the early 1970s, largely motivated by its rivalry with India and regional security concerns. The program was spearheaded by Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, a metallurgical engineer who, after working in Europe at the Dutch company URENCO, brought back crucial centrifuge designs and technology to Pakistan in 1975. This technology enabled Pakistan to enrich uranium, a key step in developing nuclear weapons
. The nuclear weapons effort was officially launched by Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972, following Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh. Bhutto was determined to develop a nuclear deterrent against India, especially after India’s nuclear test in 1974
. Abdul Qadeer Khan founded the Engineering Research Laboratories (later Kahuta Research Laboratories) to build uranium enrichment facilities using components procured through a global black market network he developed. By the late 1980s, Pakistan had produced enough highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and had the capability to assemble a bomb
. Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests in 1998, shortly after India’s nuclear tests earlier that month, officially becoming a nuclear-armed state. Pakistan is estimated to have around 170 nuclear warheads today
. Additionally, Khan’s network was implicated in proliferating nuclear technology to countries like Iran, Libya, and North Korea, which led to international scrutiny and sanctions
. In summary, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program was driven by strategic rivalry with India, led by Abdul Qadeer Khan’s acquisition and development of uranium enrichment technology, and culminated in nuclear tests in 1998, establishing Pakistan as a nuclear power
