MILNET: Pakistan Nuclear Response
Details of India's Nuclear Tests
Details of India's Nuclear Tests
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the largest of Pakistan's five blasts at a 4.9 on the Richter scale, perhaps intimating that this is less than India's largest blast (which tolled up a 5.4) and has been estimated at 10 kilotons.
At the same time the tests were conducted, Pakistan issued a declaration of a state of emergency and said that they had received indications that a potential, unnamed adversary was maneuvering to attack their weapons program.
U.S. President Clinton has issued an order to impose economic sanctions on Pakistan as well as India.
24 hours later, Pakistan detonated a sixth nuclear weapon at 11:55am Pakistan time, on May 29, 1998. Fox News reported that "...The test was carried out at a new site in Sostain, Wadh, in Chagai District, where Thursday's five tests were conducted. The site is about 25 miles from the Iranian border."
The Pakistani position is that the detonations are to counter those of India and to bring stability to the region, specifically to bring about a basis for equal negotiation on nuclear weapons.
