(28 May 1998) Urdu/Nat
People in Pakistan took to the streets on Thursday to celebrate the five underground nuclear tests were carried out in the southwestern Baluchistan province.
Meanwhile, Pakistani President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar proclaimed a state of emergency which suspends constitution and the legal system, giving the government extraordinary powers.
In the country's capital Islamabad, Pakistanis are basking in their show of nuclear might to the rest of the world.
They waved Pakistan's green and white flag, handed out sweets to each other, and shouted slogans in favor of the government and against India.
SOUNDBITE: (Urdu)
\"We are thankful to the Prime Minister for the explosion. He has raised our heads with pride. We are proud of it and we are prepared to give every sacrifice. We are if needed also ready to give funds to the government even if we have to die of hunger.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
Pakistan's detonations are in response to India's testing of five nuclear devices two weeks ago.
This has spurred international suspicions of a regional nuclear arms race developing between the two rivals.
And there's concern amongst some of the younger citizens of Pakistani.
SOUNDBITE: (Urdu)
\"Pakistan has done a tremendous thing. The explosion has made everyone in India stop in their tracks.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif first made the announcement confirming that the five nuclear tests had taken place in on a nationally televised broadcast.
He then went on to address reporters at a news conference.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"Pakistan today successfully conducted five nuclear tests. The results were as expected, there was no release of radioactivity. I congratulate all Pakistani scientists engineers and technicians for their dedicated teamwork and expertise in mastering complex and advanced technology.\"
SUPERCAPTION: Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani Prime Minister
Since India's tests, many people in Pakistan have feared that the next item on the agenda of the Hindu nationalist government in India is an assault on Kashmir.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"Pakistan has been obliged to exercise the nuclear option due to the weaponisation of Indias nuclear programme. This has lead to the collapse of the (unclear) deterrents and has radically altered the strategic balance in our region.\"
SUPERCAPTION: Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani Prime Minister
Pakistan and India have gone to war three times since the South Asian subcontinent gained its independence in 1947.
Many feared a fourth, possibly nuclear, confrontation in 1990 over the disputed region of Kashmir.
Later on Thursday, the Pakistani government announced a state of emergency.
This suspends Pakistan's constitution and the legal system.
Shortly after midnight on Thursday India's ambassador to Pakistan was summoned to the foreign ministry and was warned that Pakistan had received 'credible evidence' of a possible pre-emptive strike by India on its nuclear facilities.
India has called the allegations 'baseless and malicious.'
Pakistan has warned India of 'massive retaliation' if it attacked them.
But for the moment, Pakistanis continue to celebrate their 'coming of age' as a nuclear power.
In Lahore, at least two thousand people marched down the street dancing and singing.
Gunfire could also be heard as part of the celebrations.
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Негізгі бет PAKISTAN: PAKISTANIS CELEBRATE NUCLEAR TEST (2)
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