Islamabad, April 16: Pakistan is ready to carry out a nuclear explosion any time and is in the process of developing another surface-to-surface missile `Ghaznavi' which is more powerful than Ghauri, with a range of 2000 kms, the country's top nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has said.``We are ready to carry out a nuclear explosion any time and the day this political decision will be made, we will show the world,'' Khan told newsmen here on Wednesday.
Dr Khan, who heads the Kahuta research laboratory, said Pakistan was also in a position to launch an indigenous satellite ``within no time'' on the orders of the Prime Minister.
He said the world community has in a way recognised Pakistan as a ``nuclear power'' and added the comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) would not come into effect unless signed by Islamabad. ``It is a tacit acceptance of our nuclear capability,'' Dr Khan emphasised.
Referring to Ghauri missile, he said ``this would be followed by `Ghaznavi' missile with a range of 2000 km.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
