Latest news with #RashidAhmed
News18
05-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Can A Nuclear Bomb Weigh Just 250 Grams? Pakistan's Nuke Claim Fact-Checked
Last Updated: Former Pakistani minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, had claimed that Pakistan possessed "tactical nuclear weapons" as light as 125 to 250 grams, designed for battlefield use. In the tense aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, fears of a military confrontation between India and Pakistan are rising once again, rekindling memories of the 2019 standoff when India revoked the Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status. That move, made on August 5 of that year, plunged the subcontinent into a geopolitical chill, with both nuclear-armed neighbours bracing for potential conflict. Now, with public and political rhetoric escalating, questions surrounding Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, especially its controversial claims of possessing 'miniature" nuclear weapons, have resurfaced. Former Railway Minister from Pakistan, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, had claimed that Pakistan possessed 'tactical nuclear weapons" as light as 125 to 250 grams, designed for battlefield use. According to nuclear experts and archival data, such claims are deeply suspect. Building a functioning nuclear device requires achieving a 'critical mass" of fissile material, typically around 5 kgs of Plutonium-239 or 15 kgs of Uranium-235, when used with a neutron reflector. This mass is essential to trigger the self-sustaining chain reaction that causes a nuclear explosion. Attempting to scale this down drastically, to mere hundreds of grams, would render the device non-viable for any meaningful detonation. Furthermore, the weight of the bomb casing, detonators, and safety mechanisms adds significantly to any theoretical minimum. Experts assert that the lightest possible working nuclear weapon would still weigh between 10-15kgs, with anything lighter deemed ineffective and more symbolic than strategic. If there is a benchmark for small nuclear bombs, it is America's W54 – a Cold War-era tactical nuclear warhead that weighed around 23kgs and measured just over a foot in both length and diameter. Its variants included models intended for portable use and even as a payload for man-portable launchers. Despite its compact design, it still adhered to the laws of nuclear physics and carried enough fissile material to produce a controlled, though limited, nuclear explosion. Pakistan's alleged 'hand grenade-sized" nukes remain unverified and widely dismissed by international analysts. As of now, no public record or credible intelligence confirms the successful miniaturisation of a nuclear weapon down to such negligible weights. Russia's 'Tsar Bomba' At the other end of the spectrum lies Russia's 'Tsar Bomba", the largest nuclear device ever detonated. With an explosive yield of 50 megatons of TNT, it was roughly 3,800 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. That 1945 attack, which killed over 1,40,000 people, was carried out using a bomb named 'Little Boy" that weighed around 4,400 kgs. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bulky, primitive by modern standards, but devastating. Even now, generations later, their legacy remains a chilling reminder of the long-term impact of nuclear radiation. How Armed Are India and Pakistan in 2025? According to a 2025 assessment by the Federation of American Scientists, India currently holds an estimated 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan possesses around 172. While these numbers suggest parity, the strategies behind their deployment diverge. India adheres to a declared 'No First Use" doctrine, whereas Pakistan maintains strategic ambiguity, with its leadership frequently alluding to the use of tactical nukes as a deterrent against conventional military advances. Pakistan's ambition to ascend into the top tier of global nuclear powers is no secret. Media reports over the years have highlighted its efforts to develop low-yield weapons for battlefield use, seeing them as a counterbalance to India's conventional military superiority. But experts caution that any such move would likely backfire. Using a tactical nuclear weapon, even in response to a conventional attack, would mark a catastrophic escalation, inviting retaliatory strikes and endangering millions. The resurgence of nuclear bravado in the subcontinent comes at a time when global efforts to control proliferation are under strain.
Observer
29-03-2025
- Business
- Observer
Tailors, textile shops thrive as demand soars for Eid
MUSCAT, MAR 29 Tailors, textile shops, and ready-made garment stores were bustling with customers on Saturday as people scrambled to find the perfect attire ahead of Eid al Fitr. Dressing in new and elegant outfits is an essential part of Eid celebrations, and the demand for fresh, fragrant, and finely stitched garments has surged. Traditional Omani attire, particularly the Dishdasha, is at the heart of these preparations, keeping tailors across Muscat busier than ever. The Omani Kandura, also known as Thawb, Thobe, or Dishdasha, is an ankle-length tunic worn by Omani men. Rashid Ahmed, a Kashmiri Musar (Omani turban) seller at OK Center, noted that skilled expatriate tailors in Seeb Souq, Muttrah Souq, and OK Center in Ruwi have been working tirelessly for weeks to meet the rising demand. 'These tailors, whether providing full packages (cloth plus tailoring) or just tailoring services, are facing diverse requests. Learning is a constant process in this trade,' he said. "We receive young customers daily with unique preferences — some want different colours, others prefer specific styles, materials, or intricate decorative details," Ahmed added. Under normal circumstances, a tailor typically completes one Kandura per day. However, during the Eid rush, many are tasked with stitching two or more daily, making quality control a challenge. "This is not our routine practice. Maintaining quality under such pressure is difficult, and if the standards drop, you risk losing business permanently," one tailor explained, emphasizing Omanis' keen attention to craftsmanship. To preserve traditional Omani attire, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) has enforced strict regulations. Ministerial Decree No (270/2015) prohibits unauthorised alterations to the Kandura, including cutting, sewing, printing slogans or foreign trademarks, or making modifications that go against cultural traditions. The ministry conducts annual inspections to ensure compliance, underscoring the importance of preserving Omani heritage through its distinctive traditional dress.
