The Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP), in collaboration with The Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore, hosted Pakistan's first two-day international conference on "Comparative Nuclear History." The conference was convened to discuss comparative nuclear historical perspectives, to train Pakistani academics and research scholars working on South Asian nuclear issues to understand comparative historical contexts, and to stress the critical importance of access to archival sources in the ongoing study of nuclear policy issues.

Keynote speakers Ahmer Bilal Soofi, President of the Research Society of International Law, and Khalid Banuri, Director General of the Arms Control and Disarmament Directorate at the Strategic Plans Division, offered a practitioner's perspective with their remarks. Experts from Pakistan included Dr. Rifaat Hussain, Khalid Banuri, Dr. Rabia Akhtar, Salma Malik, Dr. Adil Sultan, Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, Dr. Zafar Khan and Sadia Tasleem. History and Public Policy Program Director Christian Ostermann, with fellow NPIHP partners David Holloway, Mahsa Rouhi, and Giordana Pulccini also participated in the proceedings.

Click here to read the press release.

CSSPR-NPIHP International Conference on Nuclear History

Oct 30-31, 2016

Sunday Oct 30, 2016: Inaugural Session

Mr. Awais Raoof: Welcome Remarks                                                              10:10-10:20am

Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi: Pakistan’s Freedom of Information Act                                  10:20-10:40am

Mr. Khalid Banuri: Pakistan and the Non-proliferation Regime                                   10.40:11:00am

Q&A                                                    11:15-11:30am

TEA                                                     11:30-11:55am

Session I: Comparative International Nuclear History

Session Chair: Mr. Khalid Banuri

1.      Dr. Christian Ostermann                                                                           12:00-12:15am

o   Conducting International Nuclear History Research

2.      Prof. Dr. David Holloway                                                                                    12:15-12:30am

o   The United States and the Soviet Union at the start of the Atomic Age                  

3.      Dr. Mahsa Rouhi                                                                                       12:30-12:45a.m

o   Evolution of Iranian Nuclear Strategy after the Revolution                         

4.      Dr. Giordana Pulcini                                                                                 12:45-1:00pm

o   US/NATO Nuclear Perspectives

5.      Dr. Yogesh Joshi   (In absentia: paper to be read out)                              1:00-1:15pm

o   Indian Perspective on Pak’s nuclear program in the 1970s               

Q&A                                                    1:15-1:45pm

LUNCH                                               2:00-2:55pm @ UoL

Session II: Nuclear History Perspectives from Pakistan

Session Chair: Ms. Salma Malik

1.      Prof. Dr. Rifaat Hussain                                                                                       3:00-3:15pm

o   National Security Research and Discourse in Pakistan

2.      Dr. Rabia Akhtar                                                                                                  3:15-3:30pm

o   Pakistan and the U.S. Non-proliferation Policy

3.      Dr. Zafar Khan                                                                                                     3:30-3:45pm

o   Evolution of Pakistan’s Deterrence Doctrine

4.      Ms. Sadia Tasleem                                                                                                3:45-4:00pm

o   Challenges of Nuclear History Research in Pakistan

5.      Dr. Adil Sultan                                                                                                     4:00-4:15pm

o   Nuclearization of South Asia: Impact of Driver’s                                                           

6.      Dr. Mansoor Ahmed (via Skype from Belfer Center)                                          4:15-4:30pm

o   Pakistan's Nuclear Quest: A Bureaucratic Politics Perspective

Q&A                                                    4:30-5:00pm

TEA                                                     5:00-5:30pm @ UoL