Pakistan’s Nuclear Bomb [Hardcover] [Jan 01, 2018] HASSAN ABBAS

by Hassan Abbas

This book critically examines how and why Pakistan acquired its nuclear weapons, and then delves deeper into the motivations and circumstances of the nuclear proliferation activities of Khan’s network, with a special focus on Iran, Libya, and North Korea. For the first time in history all the elements of nuclear weapons development—the supplier networks, the material, the centrifuge technology and enrichment mechanism, and possibly the warhead designs—were outside direct state control at least for part of the time during this roughly sixteen-year proliferation crisis (1987–2003).

Genres: Pakistan, Nonfiction, History, Politics

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 12, 2017

About the author

Hassan Abbas is professor and chair of the department of regional and analytical atudies at National Defense University's College of International Security Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Aqeel Haider · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholastic Work by Hassan Abbas.

[Asad Ullah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive book on Pakistan's Nuclear Bomb(Islamic Bomb). Hassan tried his best to explain in depth why Pakistan became a nuclear power. Pakistan's army has been bragging about its strategy of 'minimum deterrence' to counter India's conventional power, though it may seem vague, yet it is a dangerous doctrine. Tactical nukes, if used, will have a great effect over Climate.

I wish no such day ever comes. If so, the living will envy the dead.

[Syed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well! The first book, which encompass the whole subject of Pakistan's Nuclear history. Hassan Abbas has taken us on this journey in the best way, which gives a detailed analysis of factors & circumstances, which forced Pakistan to go Nuclear, the whole process of of how Pakistan achieved, it's goal to posses nuclear bomb, the circumstance, motivations & players involved in proliferation, which started from Pakistan, it's current state and possibly a future dimension. I must say this is the most comprehensive yet brief book on this subject.

It is very evident and clear, the journey on which Pakistan embarked, to go Nuclear, despite being and infant country, and despite being no resources available, is very clear, that is "Perception of Threat" & the role played by big players in defusing that perception.

The injustice or imbalanced approach of west towards several countries are forcing them to do, what they are doing in terms of Nuclear capabilities. In same region west is supporting one & completely isolating another in same domain. This policy is leading world towards the brink of disaster.

Certainly A Q Khan, did wrong by getting involved in proliferation, but at the same time, we should ask question, what forced him, what motivated him? Answer is very simple, the threat he perceived & hatred he felt towards the prevailing injustice in the world.

[Khurram Shehzad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book successfully provides the linkages of various stages of proliferation with internal political turmoil that Pakistan was facing, which encouraged the A.Q network to continue without sufficient checks. It's a story of limited collaboration, incompetence, insecurity, skeptimism, technological bargains and defiance of the Pakistani governments, both civilian and military, which led to the proliferation to Iran, Libya and North Korea. But that isn't it; it's also a story of courage, innovation, consistency, willpower and patriotism which made Pakistan a nuclear state at first and later a responsible nuclear state, which stands defiant to any outside threat with dignity.

[Humayun Zafar Ladhuka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book as the title says "A story of defiance" is an excellent account of Pakistan's terrific nuclear journey.

This book provides an insight to how the country begins its nuclear journey and how it becomes an important nuclear state. Both of these questions have been carefully analyzed in this book.

Similarly, it also explains the illicit nuclear trade by scientists such as A Q Khan that brought difficult times for the country not only in domestic but also in international domain. Moreover, it explains the link between troubled civil-military relationships and civil-military-nuclear relationships that resulted in toppling of different governments and ending of different regimes.

It's an interesting read for all those who want to explore the nuclear journey of Pakistan up to an extent.

However, nuclear weapons must not be considered as guarantees of prosperity and development.

[Muhammad Haris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-researched read on the pursuit of Pakistan's erection of first Islamic nuclear arsenal. How the Holland qualified Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan-a hero for his nation, without a doubt- weaved the threads of his relationships deep into the fabric of his country's civil-military leadership and took advantage of this influence to establish connections with countries like North Korea, Libya, and Iran and how Pakistan dismantled the network altogether after its unraveling? The author has presented motivations of Pakistani scientists involved in the exchanging of nuclear information through several perspectives which very much projects a vivid and clear image of the happenings into the mind of the reader.

[Navneet Bhushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The key value of the book is in the chronology in the appendix -from 1956 to 2017.

The book does includes key published and known events in the Pakistani quest for the bomb nd nuclear capability.

However it doesn't really give the analysis of how AQ khan could act independent of deep state in proliferation. The assertion by the author that was the case is not really an emergent fact from the book.
Perhaps that is the aim. Nevertheless an interesting read on history however it doesn't give deeper analysis of Pakistan's deep state thoughts on future.

The deep analysis would have been helpful.

[Yash Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pakistan's nuclear bomb, A story of defiance, deterrence and deviance is a thoroughly researched and judiciously written book about the making of the so-called Islamic bomb and the heinous agendas of the people behind the infamous nuclear proliferation.

It's a must read book for those people who are interested in knowing about the history of the Pakistan's nuclear programme and the people who made Pakistan a nuclear power.


For the detailed article you can visit my website - https://dontbignorant.in/pakistans-nu...

[Mohsin Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very mature and deliberate stuff on nuclear proliferation. Title gave the impression of Pak’sbomb making narrative though it was solely projected towards the proliferation aspect of Khan Network. Author discussed matter in totality while discussing existential scenarios of the era leading to certain strategic and policy decisions. Well written.

[Vasil Kolev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muddled, provides some context but definitely not enough, and tries to answer one question - the involvement of the government in the A. Q. Khan network, but doesn't really explain the history or the whole Pakistani nuclear program and proliferation, there are just too many gaps.

[Sanjay Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A narrative about Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme. Presenting new historical evidence and providing theoretical nuances challenging traditional dogmas, it provides a reasonably balanced perspective from a Pakistani scholar in an American institution.

[Ahsan]

Awesome book in histoical point of view.

[Sana Cheema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good, informative, but hypercritical of Islam and biased towards west

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

More detail than survey. Read up on the military history of Pakistan before starting this book. Also note the author uses a stipulative definition of "democratic" where other readers might mean "civilian."