PAKISTAN 28 & 30 May 2008 Pakistan observes 10th anniversary of nuclear tests. Source of great national pride 

Pakistan observes the 10th anniversary of its nuclear tests amid concerns in the Western world and India about the possibility that Islamic extremists, sympathetic to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, could take control of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. The nuclear weapons concerns increased with the instability related to the country's election and the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistan observes its nuclear day as Yaum-e-Takbeer ( an annual day to praise God). Pakistan's top nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, will be honored -- without recognition of the role of Nawaz Sharif, who was prime minister during the tests. The tests were conducted under the supervision of the scientist, who is regarded as a national hero for helping Pakistan become a nuclear state but who confessed in 2004 to transferring nuclear technology to Iran and Libya.

Pakistan conducted its first nuclear test, code-named Chagai I, on 28 May 1998 in Baluchistan province. The second test, Chagai II, followed on May 30.

Pakistan conducted the tests in response to nuclear tests conducted by India on 11 May 1998. Both countries were sanctioned. Some of India's penalties were lifted following a visit to the sub-continent by former US president Bill Clinton in Mar 2000. Pakistan's were lifted after President Pervez Musharraf promised to assist Washington in its so-called war on terror. Jan/08

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NEWSAHEAD CORRESPONDENT C.BALAJI, WHO IS AVAILABLE FOR FREELANCE ASSIGNMENTS IN INDIA AND THE REGION. email: mohan balaji

RELATED READING:

Profile: Abdul Qadeer Khan (BBC Feb 2004)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3343621.stm

The point of no return (Atlantic Monthly Jan/Feb 2006)
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200601/aq-khan