Pakistan, Nuclear Test Medal 1998

In a recent issue, we offered sets of 11 different Pakistan medals, one of which was this interesting medal issued to mark the underground nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan in May 1998. Codenamed Chagai-I, the tests were carried out in the remote Ros Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Balochistan Province in direct response to India’s second nuclear tests earlier that month. News of the tests was met with celebrations in Pakistan but was widely condemned by the International community. The Pakistani government established the Chagai-I Medal, first awarded in 1998 to the scientists who witnessed the tests. Subsequently, the Chagai-I medal has been awarded to various individuals in the field of science. The granite mountains are shown on the medal with inscriptions in Arabic above and below, the reverse shows the crescent and star of Pakistan with the date 28 May 1998 below all within a wreath. The ribbon has equal stripes of yellow, red, and white.