On this day 11 May in 1998, India conducted three underground nuclear tests. Major foreign powers which include the US, Israel, UK, Germany, Canada, Russia, and France have provided critical support to India in its nuclear program.
Canada gave a 40 MW nuclear research reactor along with two 200 MW power reactors to India in 1960. It also provided fuel for India's first two heavy water power reactors in Rajasthan. They were emulated by the Indians to build their own RAPS 1 and RAPS 2.
The French govt helped the Indian engineers in the fabrication of the un-safeguarded fast breeder test reactor at Kalpakkam. It supplied low enriched uranium fuel for Tarapur Atomic Power Station from 1983-to 1993. Indian engineers were given training in nuclear-related fields.
3. Germany supplied unsafeguarded heavy water plants which were installed at Nangal and Tauscher. They provided natural lithium which is useful in making tritium to boost nuclear bombs. India covertly imported 1000 kg beryllium in 1984 and developed its plant at BARC, Mumbai.
4. Russians provided two 100 MW Nuclear Reactors for the Kudam Kalam Power project in Tamil Nadu in 1998. They secretly sold about 100 tonnes of heavy water for India's un-safeguarded reactors. Moscow also loaned two nuclear-powered submarines for training.
5. the United States helped India in the construction of Tarapur Atomic Power Stations. Heavy water for the CIRUS reactor was supplied that made plutonium for India's first nuclear bomb. Assistance and technology were provided for establishing a plutonium reprocessing plant at Tromba.
6. The United Kingdom supplied turbine generator designs that were used at several unsafeguarded reactors. Damaged equipment of some heavy water plants was repaired. India secretly acquired technology for producing a heat-resistant material for its nuclear missile program.
7. After India gave full diplomatic recognition to Israel on 29 January 1992, Tel Aviv offered greater cooperation in nuclear and missile technology. The Carnegie Endowment Report pointed out that Israel approached India for assistance to destroy Pakistan's nuclear facilities.
India conducted her first nuclear bomb test in 1974; just three years after sponsoring a successful proxy war in East Pakistan. Perhaps a reason why Bhutto said:
“We will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (Atom bomb)... We have no other choice!”
An eye-opening thread on how major powers like the US helped India in developing its Nuclear Program. On one side they're saying that they're against such nuclear weapons and trying to get rid of these nuclear weapons & making the world peaceful but on another side, they're helping their allies to make it.
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