ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, May 28, 2025 : Pakistan on Wednesday commemorated the 27th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer\u2014the historic day when the country became the first Muslim nuclear power\u2014by paying rich tributes to the architects of its nuclear programme, reaffirming its doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, and vowing to transform national strength into economic might.<\/p>\n
In their messages to the nation, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif underscored the strategic significance of the nuclear tests conducted on May 28, 1998, highlighting them as a cornerstone of Pakistan\u2019s security doctrine.<\/p>\n
President Zardari stated that the decision to become a nuclear power was a \u201ccalculated move to ensure peace through strength\u201d and maintain strategic balance in South Asia. Recalling the contributions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said the achievement was a product of visionary leadership and national unity.<\/p>\n
Amid evolving regional threats, the President emphasized Pakistan\u2019s commitment to peace, asserting that the country\u2019s nuclear capability was purely defensive. He cited the recent Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos as a demonstration of strategic patience and effective response to unprovoked Indian aggression.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed similar sentiments, calling Youm-e-Takbeer a \u201csolemn reminder\u201d of Pakistan\u2019s resolve to defend its sovereignty. Linking the historic achievement to the recent military standoff with India, he said the \u201cjoys of Youm-e-Takbeer have further increased\u201d following Pakistan\u2019s successful defence against an \u201cunjustified war imposed by India.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the 1998 nuclear tests conducted under former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the premier lauded the decision to match and surpass India\u2019s nuclear tests as an act of \u201ciron resolve\u201d that defied immense international pressure.<\/p>\n
He paid homage to the scientific community, armed forces, and the people of Pakistan, reiterating that Youm-e-Takbeer symbolizes the nation\u2019s unity and resilience. The Prime Minister also urged the country to channel this spirit towards economic transformation and global recognition.<\/p>\n
Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani termed the day a \u201cgolden chapter\u201d in Pakistan\u2019s defence history. Acknowledging the roles of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, he stressed that the nuclear journey was grounded in strategic foresight and national interest. He called on the youth to understand the peaceful nature of Pakistan\u2019s nuclear doctrine.<\/p>\n
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq described May 28 as a watershed moment in Pakistan\u2019s pursuit of strategic autonomy and technological excellence. Praising Nawaz Sharif\u2019s historic leadership, he also commended the armed forces for their decisive action during Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, especially under the leadership of Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir.<\/p>\n
He highlighted the interplay of political wisdom, military professionalism, and public unity, adding that national security derives from \u201ccohesion, sacrifice, and the unwavering resolve of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a separate statement, the Armed Forces of Pakistan, through the ISPR, congratulated the nation on Youm-e-Takbeer, reaffirming their commitment to defend Pakistan \u201cacross the full spectrum of conflict.\u201d The military reiterated that the country\u2019s strategic capability remains a defensive shield and a symbol of peace and national unity.<\/p>\n
Calling the nuclear capability a \u201cnational trust,\u201d the Armed Forces emphasized their resolve to protect Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty and ensure peace in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, May 28, 2025 : Pakistan on Wednesday commemorated the 27th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer\u2014the historic day when the country became the first Muslim nuclear power\u2014by paying rich tributes to the architects of its nuclear programme, reaffirming its doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, and vowing to transform national strength into economic might. In their messages […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[44,45],"class_list":["post-5152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national","tag-latest","tag-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5152\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thediplomat.com.pk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}