India's nuclear history...

• On 8 October, 1948, mere months after the end of British Colonial rule, India established the Atomic Energy Commission to explore for Uranium.

   

• By 1956, India had negotiated the purchase of the 40 megawatt Canadian-Indian Reactor, US, or CIRUS. The United States supplied the heavy water used to moderate or control fission in the reactor.

   

• In 1963, India acquired two 210 megawatt boiling water reactors (BWRs), for installation at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS). The supplier? General Electric.

   

• In 1964, India began processing Plutonium at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).

   

• Finally, on 18 May, 1974, India tested her first atomic device, a 12 to 15 kiloton bomb made possible by approximately 15 kilograms of Plutonium probably processed by the CIRUS reactor.

   

• In 1976, the USSR begins to supply heavy water.

   

• During the Eighties, India acquired centrifuge technology and built an enrichment plant.

   

• In February, 1982, India completed construction of another fuel processing plant at Kalpakkam. Today, India has three fuel enrichment plants.

   

• In July, 1982, the United States and India agree that France would supply heavy water for TAPS.

   

• In October, 1985, India's 40 megawatt "fast breeder" reactor became operational. "Fast breeder" reactors actually produce more fissile material than they consume.

   

• Mid-May 1998, India detonated five underground nuclear devices in their western desert region.

Pakistan's nuclear history...

• In 1962, the US supplied Pakistan with their first light water research reactor.

   

• In 1965, a 5 megawatt reactor began operation.

   

• In 1972, Canada supplied a heavy water moderated reactor.

   

• In 1977, Germany sold vacuum pumps for enrichment of Plutonium.

   

• In 1978, France canceled her nuclear assistance program.

   

• In 1983, China supplied Pakistan with the design for a 25 kiloton bomb. France agreed to provide equipment for a 900 megawatt reactor.

   

• Development continued throughout the eighties and the world was informed that Pakistan had the technology to construct nuclear devices.

   

• And finally, at the end of May 1998 Pakistan responded to the Indian blasts with a reported five detonations of their own. There has since been an additional detonation.

   

SOURCES: Grolliers, Software Toolworks Encyclopedia and the Houghton Mifflin World Almanac.