Pakistan as a nuclear power; relations with India and Bangladesh

O Level Pakistan Studies History · Nationhood: 1971 to 1999 and Pakistan in world affairs. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

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The idea

Pakistan's nuclear programme grew out of fear of India. After the loss of 1971 and India's nuclear test of 1974, Bhutto's government pushed the work forward, and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan led uranium enrichment at Kahuta. In May 1998 India tested again and Pakistan answered with its own tests at Chagai. The USA opposed the programme and used aid cuts and sanctions to try to stop it.

Relations with India have been tense since 1947, mainly over Kashmir. There were wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971, and fighting at Siachen and Kargil. Between these came attempts at peace, each named after the place where it was signed.

Relations with Bangladesh began in bitterness but improved after Pakistan recognised it in 1974.

Rules to remember

Common mistake

Students match the wrong agreement to the wrong war. Tashkent followed the 1965 war and Simla followed the 1971 war; the Lahore Declaration came just before Kargil, not after it.

Worked example

The USA knew about Pakistan's nuclear programme during the 1980s but cut off aid only in 1990. Why then?

  1. In the 1980s the USA needed Pakistan as its ally against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, so aid continued.
  2. Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989.
  3. Once Pakistan was no longer needed in that war, the nuclear issue came first and aid was stopped.

Answer: The end of the Afghan war removed the USA's reason to overlook the nuclear programme.

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. Which was an attempt to improve Pakistan-India relations in 1999?

  1. A
    the Tashkent Declaration
  2. B
    the Simla Agreement
  3. C
    the Indus Waters Treaty
  4. D
    the Lahore Declaration
Show answer

Answer: D. Vajpayee travelled to Lahore by bus in February 1999 and he and Sharif agreed to work for peace and reduce nuclear risks.

2. Why has Pakistan refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?

  1. A
    it signed in 1970 but withdrew in 1998
  2. B
    India has also not signed
  3. C
    the treaty would ban its power stations
  4. D
    it is waiting for China to sign first
Show answer

Answer: B. Pakistan argues it cannot give up its deterrent while India stays outside the treaty.

3. When did Pakistan recognise Bangladesh?

  1. A
    1971, as soon as the war had ended
  2. B
    1974, at the Lahore Islamic Summit
  3. C
    1972, as part of the Simla Agreement
  4. D
    1976, a year after Mujib's death
Show answer

Answer: B. Recognition in February 1974 allowed Mujib to attend the summit. Mujib was killed in 1975.

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