We Can Nuke Delhi in 5 Minutes: Father of Pak’s Nuclear Programme

Khan said Pakistan could have become a nuclear power in 1984 but then President General Zia ul Haq opposed the move.

Khan said Pakistan could have become a nuclear power as early as 1984. (Photo: Reuters)

Nuclear-armed Pakistan has the ability to “target” Delhi in five minutes, according to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Addressing a gathering on the 18th anniversary of Pakistan’s first nuclear tests, which were carried out under his supervision in 1998, Khan said Pakistan could have become a nuclear power as early as 1984 but the then President General Zia ul Haq “opposed the move”.

We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984. But President General Zia ul Haq had opposed the move

Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

Khan also said that Pakistan has the ability to “target” Delhi from Kahuta near Rawalpindi in five minutes.

Khan was disgraced in 2004 when he was forced to accept responsibility for nuclear technology proliferation and was forced to live under official house arrest.

In 2009, the Islamabad High Court declared Khan a free citizen of Pakistan, allowing him free movement inside the country.

He regretted the treatment and said Pakistan would never have achieved the feat of becoming first Muslim nuclear country without his “services”.

Without my services Pakistan would never have been the first Muslim nuclear nation. We were able to achieve the capability under very tough circumstances, but we did it.

Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan