India conducted its first nuclear test, called Operation Smiling Buddha, on May 18, 1974, becoming the sixth nation in the world to possess nuclear weapons. The officially claimed yield was 12 kilotons, but independent estimates suggest it was likely between 4 and 8 kilotons. Pakistan began its nuclear program in 1972 but only tested its first nuclear weapons on May 28, 1998, in the Chagai-I tests, becoming the seventh nuclear power. Both countries’ nuclear programs were shaped by regional security concerns and rivalry, especially after India’s 1974 test, which spurred Pakistan’s efforts.
There is no credible evidence that the dates or yields of these tests were chosen for numerological or ritualistic reasons; such claims are not supported by historical or scientific records. The official timelines and technical details are well-documented by multiple independent sources