25-547: The Ras Koh Range (popularized as Ras Koh Test Site ) is a granite mountain range and a reservation of the Ministry of Defense located between the districts of Chagai and Kharan of Balochistan in Pakistan . The site was acquired as Ministry of Defense (MoD) range to conduct testing of nuclear devices, and it covers mostly desert and mountainous terrain. Since 1998, only six nuclear testing took place when Pakistan put
50-694: A horizontal shaft where the devices were to be detonated. In 1981, Pakistan's weapon testing laboratories began a series of subcritical testing of different nuclear weapon designs at the Ras Koh Range despite being a primary venue of nuclear weapon testing. Another testing area for vertical L-shaped shaft was built by the army engineers at the Kharan Desert region about 15 km (9.3 mi) west of H-shaped iron-steel tunnel first prepared in Ras Koh Test Site. The second testing area
75-751: A unilateral moratorium on a full-scale testing. The site is managed and operated by the civilian contractors under contract with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) overseeing its management and operations while the Strategic Plans Division Force oversees its security on behalf of the National Command Authority (NCA). The word "Ras" means "gateway" and the word "Koh" means "mountain" in Urdu ; therefore, it means "Gateway to
100-701: Is about 50 mi (80 km) from the range. Accessibility to the test site is only through the N-40 , which is located on the eastern part of the range. Unlike the Toba Kakar Range to the north-east, which has scattered juniper , tamarisk and pistachio trees, the Ras Koh Hills are largely barren and devoid of vegetation— the local people have avoided the area due to its remoteness, lack of water, harsh climatic environment, and difficult rocky terrains. The Ras Koh Range lies in an arid zone, which
125-673: Is composed of Secretariats of Army, Air Force, and Navy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , tri-services headquarters ( GHQ , AHQ and NHQ ), secretary from finance ministry for military financing, and joint secretaries from each secretariats of army, air force, and navy. The following is a simplified representation of the MoD's senior leadership: In the past, the Aviation Division (established in 2013) and Ministry of Defence Production (established in 2004) were also part of
150-478: Is located in a rolling sandy desert valley lined with sand ridges between the north of the Ras Koh Test Site and the Siahan Range to the south. The construction of the shafts were completed in 1980, but the nuclear testings were conducted in 1998 at the Ras Koh Test Site under series: Chagai-I and Chagai-II tests. Since 1998, Pakistani administrations have put a moratorium on nuclear weapons testing but there
175-485: Is measured to be 10,000 ft (3,000 m), with average hills are measured at 600 ft (180 m). Furthermore, its topographical geolocation lies between the much larger and difficult Sulaiman Mountains range to the northeast and the Kirthar Mountains range to its southeast. The famous Chagai Hills are located on the northwest of Ras Koh but usually contains in its range of study of geology with
200-509: Is outside the monsoon season. The Ras Koh Range receives only scarce and an irregular rainfall, with an average of 100 mm (3.9 in) annually. The weather is reportedly very extreme in Ras Koh and is one of Pakistan's extreme places with very hot in summer and very cold in winter. The minimum temperature in Ras Koh Range in 1997 is recorded at 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) in January, and
225-507: Is unknown numbers of subcritical testing conducting to determine the viability of Pakistan's aging nuclear devices. Ministry of Defence (Pakistan) The Ministry of Defence ( Urdu : وزارت دفاع , romanized : vizārat-e-difā' , abbreviated as MoD ), is an executive ministry of the federal Government of Pakistan , tasked in defending national interests and territorial integrity of Pakistan . The MoD oversees mission execution of its policies and supervises all agencies of
250-467: The Ministry of Defence Production . The Ministry of Defence is one of the largest federal ministries of the Government of Pakistan in terms of budget as well as staff. The Ministry of Defence ( Urdu : وزارت دفاع; Transliteration : Wazarat-e-Difa ) was created on 14 August 1947 from the partitioning of Ministry of Defence of India , with Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan taking
275-629: The Pakistan Army . The Corps of Engineers is generally associated with the civil engineering works, dams , canals , and flood protection , it performs and leads variety of public works in the country as part of its nation-building mission. The Corps of Engineer is commanded by the Engineer-in-Chief who acts as an army's chief topographer , and advises the Army GHQ on matters of civil engineering and construction. As of 2023,
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#1732787949708300-528: The Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers after the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), under contract with the Ministry of Defense (MoD), selected a 185 m (607 ft)-base-to-summit high granite "bone-dry" mountain in 1976. The Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) conducted several tests on ground water and several other geology tests before the corps of engineers constructed and built
325-742: The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is an elected member of Parliament of Pakistan who is a head of the ministry per accordance to the Constitution. The Defence minister is assisted by the Secretary of Defence and Parliamentary Secretary of Defence to oversee the bureaucratic matters and issues relating to administering the civil affairs between the military and the Prime Minister's Secretariat in Islamabad. The Ministry of Defence
350-428: The civilian control of the military to prevent any misadventures affecting the national integrity of Pakistan. Since 1973, many reforms have been carried out to strengthened the role of the ministry and execute its mission and scopes. From 1947 until 2004, the MoD also oversaw the roles of military expenditures and procurement when the Ministry of Defence Production was created. Unlike the other federal ministries,
375-561: The MoD is still based in Rawalpindi , near the vicinity of GHQ and the JS HQ . In its current mission parameters, the MoD is works to execute the defence policy and coordinates its functions among the different agencies and contractors relating to defence. The MoD also grants security clearances under British-styled Official Secrets Act to those involved in programs related to national security. The Minister of Defence , appointed by
400-594: The MoD. The Special Communications Organization was also part of the MoD when it was separated and attached to the Ministry of Telecommunication in 1976. Prior to the establishment of the National Command Authority (NCA) in 2000, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was responsible for the security and development of Pakistan's nuclear weapons , including oversight of the weapons testing laboratories. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not have direct control over several uniformed paramilitary organizations in Pakistan, despite
425-624: The Mountains." The Ras Koh Hills range is expanded between the districts of Chagai and Kharan , and is about 140 mi (230 km) in length, according to the survey conducted by the former British Indian Army in 1910. The length of the Ras Koh Range is also confirmed by the Geological Survey of Pakistan and the Survey of Pakistan which measured to be exact at 140 mi (230 km). The highest peak in Ras Koh Hills range
450-658: The Ras Koh Hills. The Ras Koh Range is actually separated by a larger structural depression between the open flood flats of the Chagai Hills and the Ras Koh Hills— they are widely divided by the desert terrain. In 1963, the British geologist Dr. E. R. Gee, working for and leading the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), conducted investigative scientific studies on ground water conditions, and discovered
475-552: The additional charge as first Minister of Defence . From 1947 until 1971 , the MoD was highly centralised with decision-making process and defence policies was solely depended on the General Headquarters (Pakistan Army) in Rawalpindi , Punjab . In 1973, the Constitution of Pakistan provided the legal existence and its concise functionary role in defined Part XII, Chapter II , which strongly supported
500-484: The appointment of their leadership often coming from Pakistan Army . These organizations, including the Pakistan Rangers , Frontier Corps , Coast Guards and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts , fall under the administrative control of the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers The Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers is a military administrative and the engineering staff branch of
525-532: The average maximum at 42.5 °C (108.5 °F) in July. In 1962, the Government of Pakistan designated the area for Wildlife sanctuary, which covers an area of 994.98 km (384.16 sq mi). Plans to conduct nuclear weapon testing began in 1975–76 with the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's administration when the Ras Koh Range was acquired as a test site. Logistical and construction support came from
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#1732787949708550-471: The current Engineer-in-Chief is Lt-Gen. Kashif Nazir . The engineering arm of the Pakistan Army was commissioned as an administrative branch when it was partitioned from the former British Indian Army 's Royal Indian Engineers in 1947. The Bengal and Bombay engineer group laid the foundation of establishing the engineering arm of the Pakistan Army. From 1947 till 1956, the engineering arm
575-413: The deposits of Chromite . The sedimentary rock formations in the range are mostly granite, limestone and conglomerate . The GPS also discovered the deposits of the diorites in Ras Koh Range in its records. In Ras Koh Range, GSP also recorded the few alluvial fans in its 1970 reports but the area is mostly desert and rocky terrain. The township, Dalbandin , is the closest town near the site, which
600-549: The government directly related to the national security and the Pakistan Armed Forces . The existence and functions of the ministry are statutorily defined in Part XII, Chapter II of the Constitution of Pakistan with Minister of Defence being its head who reports directly to Prime Minister of Pakistan . The responsibilities for procurement, production and disposal of equipment were transferred in 2004 to
625-551: Was known as " Royal Pakistan Engineers " since it was under the royal patronage , with many British officers serving in the engineering arm. In 1956, Royal Pakistan Engineers changed its designation to the Corps of Engineers. From 1947–69, the Corps of Engineers were an instrument for Pakistan Army to engage in building massive infrastructure, dams, canals, roads, and variety of other important public works projects as part of its nation-building mission. The education and training for
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