1980 Documentary on Pakistan's Nuclear Program

[SipahSalar]

Great BBC documentary from 1980 on Pakistan's nuclear program, Project 706 as it was known then.

Key points:
- Libya was the biggest backer of Pakistani Nuclear program. Gaddafi poured millions of dollars of Libyan Oil money into the Nuclear program.
- Money was delivered in cash. A single courier would come carrying a suitcase of 100 million dollars per flight.
- Uranium was acquired in very large amounts from Republic of Niger (300 tonnes by 1980), the dictator was muslim and was sympathetic to Pakistan's cause.
- Pakistan was extremely close to getting the bomb in 1980. As history tells us now, by 1984 we had deployable nuclear weapon, 10 years after India. Although the documentary claims Pakistan will be able to test a device in 18 months.
- Dr. S.A Butt was the hand driving the nuclear program.
- Pakistan's plan initially was to get a plutonium based weapon. After serious setbacks it switched to uranium.
- Western governments and companies thought it will be impossible for Pakistan to go through the Uranium route because it was extremely challenging and expensive. That in itself created the perfect cover for espionage.

 

[Donatello]

Uranium was procured through Niger, not Nigeria, as it states in the documentary, Libya's Gadafi convinced Seyni Kountche of Niger to allow Pakistan the uranium. Surprisingly the mines were run by the French company.
Western governments thought that plutonium would not be possible for Pakistan, that is why Pakistan first went ahead with Uranium route and then kept the Plutonium bomb running in parallel.
Surprisingly, the British, German, Canadian, Swiss, French companies supplied the electronics and materials knowing very well where they were going, and Israel couldn't do shyt. They named Gadafi stadium after Moamer Gadafi for a reason.

Such cleverness, much wow.

 

[SipahSalar]

Uranium was procured through Niger, not Nigeria, as it states in the documentary,

Thank you for the correction. I clearly understood they said Niger, but this is the first time i had heard of such a country. So I googled their leader, and it said he was a Nigerian. Turns out people from both Niger and Nigeria are called Nigerians. I have made the correction.

Surprisingly the mines were run by the French company.
Western governments thought that plutonium would not be possible for Pakistan, that is why Pakistan first went ahead with Uranium route and then kept the Plutonium bomb running in parallel.

It was the opposite actually, at least according to the documentary. When the reprocessing plant sale was cancelled, then Pakistan moved to the Uranium route. And turns out its easier with plutonium rather than Uranium.

Surprisingly, the British, German, Canadian, Swiss, French companies supplied the electronics and materials knowing very well where they were going, and Israel couldn't do shyt.

Yes, they wanted the money. Pakistan was paying a very good price. The best part in the documentary was the interview with the Swiss guy. The companies knew where it was going but they decided to turn a blind eye because money talks.

 

[Sage]

Great BBC documentary on Pakistan's nuclear program, Project 706 as it was known then.

Key points:
- Libya was the biggest backer of Pakistani Nuclear program. Gaddafi poured millions of dollars of Libyan Oil money into the Nuclear program.
- Money was delivered in cash. A single courier would come carrying a suitcase of 100 million dollars per flight.
- Uranium was acquired in very large amounts from Republic of Niger (300 tonnes by 1980), the dictator was muslim and was sympathetic to Pakistan's cause.
- Pakistan was extremely close to getting the bomb in 1980. As history tells us now, by 1984 we had deployable nuclear weapon, 10 years after India. Although the documentary claims Pakistan will be able to test a device in 18 months.
- Dr. S.A Butt was the hand driving the nuclear program.
- Pakistan's plan initially was to get a plutonium based weapon. After serious setbacks it switched to uranium.
- Western governments and companies thought it will be impossible for Pakistan to go through the Uranium route because it was extremely challenging and expensive. That in itself created the perfect cover for espionage.

Such an awesome docu ....thanks for sharing bro !

 

[oFFbEAT]

Too bad, Pakistan didn't help Gaddafi in return......what's the use of the 'Islamic Bomb' then??....

 

[SipahSalar]

Too bad, Pakistan didn't help Gaddafi in return......what's the use of this 'Islamic Bomb' then??....

We did provide them with all the expertise. They just couldn't pull it off, it was too complicated for them. And in 2002-2004 they gladly dropped the nuclear program under minimum pressure from US.

 

[oFFbEAT]

We did provide them with all the expertise. They just couldn't pull it off, it was too complicated for them. And in 2002-2004 they gladly dropped the nuclear program under minimum pressure from US.

Considering his contribution in making Pakistan a Nuclear power, I think the least you could've done is, send them a few Nuclear-Bombs when they were forced to abandon their nuclear program.......

 

[SipahSalar]

They couldn't manage to maintain a stable political environment with a progress society, but they built bombs.

Don't care. Have bombs.

 

[Imtiaz_Sarwar]

Considering his contribution in making Pakistan a Nuclear power, I think the least you could've done is, send them a few Nuclear-Bombs when they were forced to abandon their nuclear program.......

A very dangerous suggestion. The world would have seen this as proliferation of the worst kind and attacked Pakistan. That would have been the end of Pakistan. Whose side are you on ?

 

[oFFbEAT]

A very dangerous suggestion. The world would have seen this as proliferation of the worst kind and attacked Pakistan. That would have been the end of Pakistan. Whose side are you on ?

Ah! Not willing to take any risk to help someone who helped you in times of your need.........looks like Gaddafi wasn't prudent in selecting friends....

 

[SipahSalar]

Considering his contribution in making Pakistan a Nuclear power, I think the least you could've done is, send them a few Nuclear-Bombs when they were forced to abandon their nuclear program.......

Ah! Not willing to take any risk to help someone who helped you in times of your need.........looks like Gaddafi wasn't prudent in selecting friends....

Well we did name a cricket stadium after him. So i guess we are even.

 

[Sine Nomine]

Uranium was procured through Niger, not Nigeria, as it states in the documentary, Libya's Gadafi convinced Seyni Kountche of Niger to allow Pakistan the uranium. Surprisingly the mines were run by the French company.
Western governments thought that plutonium would not be possible for Pakistan, that is why Pakistan first went ahead with Uranium route and then kept the Plutonium bomb running in parallel.
Surprisingly, the British, German, Canadian, Swiss, French companies supplied the electronics and materials knowing very well where they were going, and Israel couldn't do shyt. They named Gadafi stadium after Moamer Gadafi for a reason.

Such cleverness, much wow.

Come on according to some Indians that was china who gifted a Nuke to Pakistan and Russia gifted this to China only India built it themselves.

 

[Jaanbaz]

The only achievement of Independent Pakistan is that they somehow manged to put together a nuclear program. Imported and stolen reactor components and designs is what made this possible. Same thing goes with their missiles.

They couldn't manage to maintain a stable political environment with a progress society, but they built bombs.

Modi Ji built India's nuclear bombs, In-fact Modi ji is actually a time traveller like Doctor Who, he comes from ancient India where they had space ships and floating toilets.

 

[Imtiaz_Sarwar]

Ah! Not willing to take any risk to help someone who helped you in times of your need.........looks like Gaddafi wasn't prudent in selecting friends....

Libya is a friend of Pakistan and will stay a friend of Pakistan. I am sure people in power must have compensated Libya in some other way. A lot of things that happen in the corridors of power are state secrets and need not be discussed openly. One thing I can assure you is that Pakistan is not an ungrateful nation. We always remember our friends and stand by them.