--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were able and we had a plan to launch…" description: "\"We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, but then President General Zia had opposed the move.\" — Abdul Qadeer Khan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg" --- # We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in… ![“We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, but then President General Zia had opposed the move.” quote by Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg) > “We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, but then President General Zia had opposed the move.” [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A planned 1984 nuclear test was halted by opposition from President General Zia, showing political control over strategic decisions. **In simple terms:** Political opposition stopped a nuclear test. Key Takeaway Recognize political constraints on strategic projects. Themes politics military nuclear policy Mood cautious analytical Type historical strategic When to use this quote - defense planning - international negotiations - policy advocacy - risk assessment Key Concepts strategic decision-making civil-military relations Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent unilateral decisions? - How do leaders balance security and political risk? A Different Perspective Political opposition can derail technical plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) ## Related quotes > [There was a general consensus to go for the nuclear test. The whole nation wanted it, and it was done properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/there-was-a-general-consensus-to-go-for-the-nuclear-test-the-whole/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Hasn't it got, like, defense codes and things? Can't we just launch a nuclear bomb at them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tyler/hasn-t-it-got-like-defense-codes-and-things-can-t-we-just-launch-a/) [Rose Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tyler/) > [Impulsiveness is not a trait one would choose for a person with the power to launch the U.S. nuclear arsenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/impulsiveness-is-not-a-trait-one-would-choose-for-a-person-with-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Donald Trump's candidacy has been a source of anxiety for many reasons, but one stands out: the ability of the president to launch nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/donald-trump-s-candidacy-has-been-a-source-of-anxiety-for-many/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [Over the years, there's been case after case when there were very narrow decisions that had to be made about whether to launch nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/over-the-years-there-s-been-case-after-case-when-there-were-very/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [North Korea has the same ability to launch a nuclear strike against America as I do. It's like walking through a parking lot and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/north-korea-has-the-same-ability-to-launch-a-nuclear-strike-against/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Individual scientists like myself - and many more conspicuous - pointed to the dangers of radioactive fallout over Canada if we were to launch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/individual-scientists-like-myself-and-many-more-conspicuous-pointed/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [ \[Not achieving a nuclear test ban\] would have to be classed as the greatest disappointment of any administration of any decade, of any time… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/not-achieving-a-nuclear-test-ban-would-have-to-be-classed-as-the/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I would not be happy. If North Korea does a nuclear test, I will not be happy. And I can tell you also, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-would-not-be-happy-if-north-korea-does-a-nuclear-test-i-will-not-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“The Operation Hardtack II nuclear test series would prove even bigger than Plumbbob, in terms of the number of tests. From September 12 to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-operation-hardtack-ii-nuclear-test-series-would-prove-even-bigger/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“A nuclear test is not a nuclear test. It is an intelligence test.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/a-nuclear-test-is-not-a-nuclear-test-it-is-an-intelligence-test/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [South Korea are pushing for a stronger way to isolate and punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-hu/south-korea-are-pushing-for-a-stronger-way-to-isolate-and-punish/) [Elise Hu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-hu/) > [North Korea conducted a nuclear test and the blast was so small that many scientists are saying it was a dud. Apparently, the nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/north-korea-conducted-a-nuclear-test-and-the-blast-was-so-small-that/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [We're on the road 300 days a year. There's no recovery time. It's a test of your physical and mental endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-phoenix/we-re-on-the-road-300-days-a-year-there-s-no-recovery-time-it-s-a/) [Beth Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-phoenix/) > [Hard times may test me, they cannot destroy me,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/hard-times-may-test-me-they-cannot-destroy-me/) [T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/) ## More by Abdul Qadeer Khan > [Hatred, intolerance, poor hygienic conditions and violence all have roots in illiteracy, so we're trying to do something to help the poor and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/hatred-intolerance-poor-hygienic-conditions-and-violence-all-have/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Some people are ok with doing nothing all day after they retire, but then some people if they had nothing to do would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/some-people-are-ok-with-doing-nothing-all-day-after-they-retire-but/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I am an innocent man, but I don't want to indulge in any controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-am-an-innocent-man-but-i-don-t-want-to-indulge-in-any-controversy/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [When India conducted nuclear tests in 1974, I wrote a letter to then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from Holland and offered my services for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/when-india-conducted-nuclear-tests-in-1974-i-wrote-a-letter-to-then/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Are they happy with our God? Are they happy with our prophet? Are they happy with our leader? Never. I don't care about rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/are-they-happy-with-our-god-are-they-happy-with-our-prophet-are-they/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I am proud of my work for my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-am-proud-of-my-work-for-my-country/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I see my future with my family, with my grandsons and daughters, and I want to look after some welfare institutions I had set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-see-my-future-with-my-family-with-my-grandsons-and-daughters-and-i/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [There is a dire need to create awareness regarding proper and safe use of laboratory equipment among lab workers and assistants, since it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/there-is-a-dire-need-to-create-awareness-regarding-proper-and-safe/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Everybody kicks those who do not have a country of their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/everybody-kicks-those-who-do-not-have-a-country-of-their-own/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Nation should be rest assured Pakistan is a safe atomic power. No one can cast an evil eye on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/nation-should-be-rest-assured-pakistan-is-a-safe-atomic-power-no-one/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [It is a dire need for our young scientists to be proficient in running and using their lab equipment rather than depending on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/it-is-a-dire-need-for-our-young-scientists-to-be-proficient-in/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [Without my services, Pakistan would never have been the first Muslim nuclear nation. We were able to achieve the capability under very tough circumstances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/without-my-services-pakistan-would-never-have-been-the-first-muslim/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [We all avow to struggle for making this country a welfare state where everyone is allowed to spend life on the basis of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/we-all-avow-to-struggle-for-making-this-country-a-welfare-state-where/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I had no political background. That's why PM Bhutto gave me the responsibility of the nuclear programme, and we acquired nuclear capability in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-had-no-political-background-that-s-why-pm-bhutto-gave-me-the/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [I have to ask Allah's forgiveness and not get angry, because they come to me out of love, and it's not fitting that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-have-to-ask-allah-s-forgiveness-and-not-get-angry-because-they-come/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) [Explore all 25 Abdul Qadeer Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) ## More General quotes > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [I've never had a couch that needed to be cleaned or learned how to couch-clean in general. That feels too grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/i-ve-never-had-a-couch-that-needed-to-be-cleaned-or-learned-how-to/) [Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/) > [People bring up tweets that I don't even remember, and my general response is, 'I don't know if I said it. I probably said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-cernovich/people-bring-up-tweets-that-i-don-t-even-remember-and-my-general/) [Mike Cernovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-cernovich/) > [It is in general the unexplored that attracts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/it-is-in-general-the-unexplored-that-attracts-us/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [“General education is not, only the way to be educated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakhru-uddin-ahammed/general-education-is-not-only-the-way-to-be-educated/) Fakhru Uddin Ahammed > [When I was at school you got an overall general education on many things, even just basic facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-i-was-at-school-you-got-an-overall-general-education-on-many/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [When I was a child, we always had wine on the table, no matter how simple the meal. The wine had no special identity;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/when-i-was-a-child-we-always-had-wine-on-the-table-no-matter-how/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [It's not a failure if a marriage or partnership ends after a certain number of years. I think, in general, we expect too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/it-s-not-a-failure-if-a-marriage-or-partnership-ends-after-a-certain/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [I have helped darts in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-sherrock/i-have-helped-darts-in-general/) [Fallon Sherrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-sherrock/) > [Mentors don't have to be the Daymond Johns or the Mark Cubans. A person running a successful bodega or a tax firm in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/mentors-don-t-have-to-be-the-daymond-johns-or-the-mark-cubans-a/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [Fiction, maybe art in general, is a tentative, uncertain enterprise; it's not science, it's an exploration, but you never find much in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/fiction-maybe-art-in-general-is-a-tentative-uncertain-enterprise-it-s/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) Browse all 1,581 General quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, but then President General Zia had opposed the move.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abdul Qadeer Khan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch-nuclear-test-in-1984-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "General" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch-nuclear-test-in-1984-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/673/abdul-qadeer-khan-23519_general_we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch_2823953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984, but then President General Zia had opposed…” — Abdul Qadeer Khan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abdul Qadeer Khan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We were able and we had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch-nuclear-test-in-1984-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/we-were-able-and-we-had-a-plan-to-launch-nuclear-test-in-1984-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```