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Anniversary of Nuclear Tests in Balochistan: story and consequences
  • Pakistan Nuclear test site
    Pakistan Nuclear test site
The state of Pakistan in 1972 commenced establishing nuclear technology and after few decades this state on 28th May, 1998, tested its nuclear bombs in mountain Koh Kambar Raskoh hills of Chagai in North West Balochistan. Pakistan has conducted six nuclear tests. On May 28, 1998, Pakistan exploded 5 nuclear devices simultaneously at the Chagal Hills (Ras Koh range) nuclear test site. One of the devices was a boosted fission device. Two days later, a 14 KT nuclear device was tested at the Balochistan test site. This device is believed to be a plutonium bomb flown in from North Korea. On June 10, 1998, an Air Koryo chartered plane took off the runway of the Islamabad International Airport of Pakistan. No one had anticipated the significance of this Pyongyang-bound flight in the affairs of the Korean peninsula. On board the plane were the 20 North Korean nuclear scientists who had conducted an underground nuclear test at Pakistan's Balochistan nuclear test site. In addition, the plane was loaded with the nuclear test equipment and test data.

For many people this day has been celebrating as Yum-e-Takbeer, (the greatness day) a pride for them but for Baloch Nation this day is mourn. That day was not a great day for Baloch Nation, but they are calling their self as an Islamic atomic power. After testing nuclear explosion the engineers and scientist paid a postrait nuclear and thanked Allah that they got nuclear power.

Being on seventh ranked in series of atomic power procuring countries the masses of Baloch are below the poverty line and they are living in the stone-age. The people value to sheep, they use their hairs and fabricate tents for shelter. Chagai is deprived of basic rights, in which the provision of education and water shortage are the most noticeable. 

The 30 kilometer ranging grayish mountainous area of Chagai after nuclear tests got changed in color yellow and white due to radiation of 30 tons of nuclear materials bombardment with five blasts in Chaghi, meanwhile two in the Kharan Mountains.

In a statement to the press the BSF said, “The effects of nuclear radiation has spread in district Chagai. Live of millions of people are at stake and there is an acute shortage of clean drinking water in many villages. Millions of worth plantation and farms were also destroyed because of the nuclear radiation. Many people are forced to migrate to different locations as the region is badly suffering after drought.”

Abid Sanjarani the leader of a local social organisation, Chagai Rights Movement (CRM), said that “because of nuclear tests the level of underground water has decreased and people are suffering from mysterious skin diseases”. The poet Mansoor Baloch in his poetry said, “In the back drop of Balochistan’s occupation everything is weeping, invading the deep impassable sees, which is filled with blood tears”.

Protest rallies and demonstration were held in Balochistan’s capital Quetta, Kalat, Nushki, Chagai, Panjgur, Turbat, Mastung against the Yom-i-Takbeer. The protesters chanted slogans against Pakistan and the nuclear tests. Angry mobs also burnt tires to block the roads in Panjgur, Noshki and other adjoining areas. In Turbat and Dasht Baloch women and children also took part in anti-nuclear rallies. 

The radiation effects of nuclear tests in Balochistan:

Due to nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan, the radioactivity has gone into the very soil of the area and has contaminated the ground water. The people who once inhabited the Chagai, are now migrating for better shelter in Pakistan, where they are treated as enemy only. Out homed from their native land, they are left to live a miserable life.The Baloch people of surrounding areas still suffer worst and drought engulfed Balochistan soon after the nuclear explosion also; Radioactivity, leukemia, cancer and numerous genital diseases have been reported from the different surrounding regions.

The people of Chagai migrated to other parts of Balochistan. A large number of children including women got handicapped. The radiation of nuclear tests still exists in the area and impacting horribly to ecology. The new born babies including women are also suffering from adverse effect of mentioned tests. As a result of Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998, children are born with genetic problems such as facial deformities, eye problems, skin diseases, and limb dysfunction. The generation of Chagai in Balochistan have developed genetic abnormalities.

Pakistan army is making feverish preparations to test new missiles in Balochistan in an area that has already been rendered into a nuclear wasteland since the May 28, 1998 nuclear tests, pro-independence Baloch sources claim. “Pakistan is using the Baloch land as a testing ground. Two days ago army tested a missile. It landed at Talaar Makran, several houses damaged,” Baloch Liberation Front chief Dr Allah Nazar tweeted . Dr Baloch, a gold medalist medic and former student leader, is one of the main leaders of the guerrilla movement in Balochistan.
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