1998 Nuclear Tests in Ras Koh Hills Chaghi – Effects, Perceptions and Realities

Abstract

Dating back to Pakistan’s five underground nuclear tests in May 1998, carried out as a deterrent response to India’s tests, this study critically examines the perceptions and realities surrounding their alleged adverse effects on the local population. It also evaluates the claims made by locals and politicians regarding increased illnesses and negative impacts in the region since those tests. The historical context of nuclear weapons development, from the Manhattan Project to the global proliferation of such arms, sets the stage for understanding the contested narratives. Due to the lack of documented evidence and medical records from the testing site’s vicinity, the research employs a mixed-method approach involving closed-ended questionnaires, open-ended interviews, and discussions. The study reveals challenges in gathering accurate data due to high levels of unawareness, especially among the unemployed and uneducated locals of Dalbandin and surrounding areas. The study basically relies on the on-ground investigations and concludes that the psychological impact of the tests is greater than the physical effects on the locals or the region. It also recommends a future course of action based on the findings.