May 28 marks Pakistan’s credible deterrent capability

MAY 28, 1998, marked as Yaum-e-Takbeer (Day of Greatness), is considered the day Pakistan’s defense became an “invincible” or impregnable power by officially crossing the nuclear threshold and establishing a credible deterrence against Indian aggression. Every year on May 28, Pakistan celebrates this day to mark its achievement in becoming the seventh nation to publicly test nuclear weapons and the first in the Muslim world. Pakistan conducted its first successful nuclear tests— known as Chagai-1—marking its emergence as a declared nuclear-armed state in South Asia. This milestone transformed Pakistan’s defense posture, asserting strategic deterrence against regional threats, particularly from India. The tests reinforced national sovereignty and signaled an unbreakable defense capability, earning global recognition and reshaping South Asian geopolitics. The day is commemorated annually as Yaum-e-Takbeer, symbolizing pride in scientific achievement and military resilience. While ‘invincible’ is a strong term, the tests established a credible deterrent, ensuring stability through balance of power. The 1998 nuclear test post-truth warrants the fact that today Pakistan is a great military power. Aims & objectives: In response to India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests in May 1998, Pakistan conducted its own series of underground nuclear tests on May 28-30, 1998, codenamed Chagai-I and II respectively. These tests, carried out at the Ras Koh Range, made Pakistan the seventh country and the first Muslim-majority nation to possess nuclear weapons. The move was a strategic deterrent response to India’s perceived military advantage, significantly altering regional security dynamics and triggering concerns over an arms race in South Asia. Pakistan’s swift action underscored its commitment to strategic balance in South Asia. Thus, Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal remains a cornerstone of its national security and international influence. Fairly arguing that the nuclear arsenal acts as a de