In a sickening display of nuclear nationalism, the government of Pakistan has ordered 10 days of national celebrations to mark the anniversary of its nuclear tests on May 28. May 28, the day of the anniversary, is to be a national holiday. It will begin with a 21-gun salute, and there will be special prayers of thanks at all the mosques. The Pakistan flag will be raised on state buildings, provincial capitals and local government offices. The prime minister will address a public rally at the mausoleum of the founder of Pakistan, and later he will preside at an award ceremony to honour Pakistan's nuclear weapon scientists.
Every branch of government is involved.
Even the Ministry of Youth Affairs is organising events. This national nuclear circus shows up just how false the claims were that the government of Pakistan made at the time of its tests. It had argued then that Pakistan had no choice but to respond to the grave threat posed by India, after India's May 11 nuclear tests. What was then claimed to be desperation has now become joy. The reasons for this circus are obvious.