Ground Zero

Since New Dehli’s nuclear tests earlier this month, relations between India and neighboring Pakistan have nose-dived, with Islamabad threatening a nuclear trial of its own. On Thursday, it carried through, detonating a series of nuclear devices 300 feet below ground in a mountainous region in the west.

NUCLEAR BUILDUP

Relations have been strained between India and Pakistan since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. Here is a timeline of how the two nations developed nuclear weapons.

1974: India conducts its first nuclear test.

1985: India builds its nuclear capabilities and refuses Pakistan’s offers of mutual inspections and nonproliferation pledges.

1986: Military exercises near the border almost lead to war.

March 1986: Pakistan obtains weapons-grade uranium.

March 1987: Pakistan claims bomb-building capacity.

April 6, 1998: Pakistan test-fires long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

May 11, 1998: India conducts three underground nuclear tests near Pakistan’s border.

May 13: India conducts two more tests in the same location.

May 28: Pakistan conducts underground nuclear tests at Ras Koh range in Chagai Hills.

CONDUCTING THE TEST

A look at how the Pakistani nuclear device was most likely tested:

Tunnel about 300 feet deep with a diameter of 4-5 feet is dug into ground and a cavern is dug at bottom.

Nuclear device is lowered down shaft and placed in cavern. Wires attached to device are drawn through hole.

Shaft is filled back up with dirt and hole at surface is capped with concrete. A few kilometers away, testers set off device.

Instruments at site measure size of blast and what gases were emitted.

GENERAL

Population

Pakistan: 135 million*

India: 988 million

World pop. rank

Pakistan: 6th

India: 2nd

Religions

Pakistan: 77% Sunni Muslim, 20% Shiite Muslim, 3% other

India: 80% Hindu, 14% Muslim, 2% Christian, 4% other

Productivity**

Pakistan: $274 billion

India: $1.41 trillion

Literacy rate

Pakistan: 38%

India: 52%

MILITARY

% of spending going to military

Pakistan: 38%

India: 15%

Annual military spending

Pakistan: $3.6 billion

India: $8.3 billion

Total active armed forces

Pakistan: 587,000

India: 1.1 million

NUCLEAR FACILITIES

1) Khula research station

2) Pakistan Institute of Science and Technology

3) Golra

4) Kahushab nuclear reactor

5) Chasma (nuclear plant being built by China)

****

PAKISTAN’S MOST FEARED WEAPON: THE GHAURI

Payload capability: 1,547 lbs

Range: 930 miles

****

INDIA’S MOST FEARED WEAPON: THE AGNI

Payload capability: 2,200 lbs

Range: 1,600 miles

* 1996 estimates

** gross domestic product in 1995

*

Sources: Stephen P. Cohen, University of Illinois; Associated Press; Department of Energy; Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems; Europa World Yearbook; The World Factbook; World Population Prospects

Researched by TRICIA FORD, WILLIAM HOLMES and JULIE SHEER / Los Angeles Times