Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program: Turning Points and Nuclear Choices

Abstract

Samina Ahmed of Harvard University examines Pakistan's motivations for responding to the Indian tests with its own series of tests on May 28 and 30. Ahmed begins by tracing the history of the Pakistani nuclear program. She then assesses the consequences of testing—in particular, the devastating impact of sanctions on the Pakistani economy—and details Islamabad's three-pronged strategy for the future of its nuclear weapons program.