After the first shell-shocked moment following news of India's nuclear tests, a heated debate began in Pakistan on whether or not there would or should be a 'retaliation' by the Sharif government. The pressure to test began mounting on Sharif with each passing day – fuelled immeasurably by a belligerent BJP-led government´s threats on Kashmir. The honour of the nation appeared to be at stake, at least as claimed by politicians and the pro-bomb lobby. Some pro-bomb demonstrations were held by religious parties. "O enemy, which nation have you taken on!" proclaimed one banner at one such demonstration staged by the right-wing religious party Shabab-e-Milli in Lahore soon after India's second set of tests.
The country's major political parties were not far behind in calling for Pakistan's own tests. Sensing the public mood, they urged a "befitting response to India".
Pro-test articles also appeared in the print media, but equal space was given to both pro- and anti-testing writers and analysts by most English-language newspapers, particularly Dawn and The News, while The Nation reflected mainly pro-bomb views.
Writing in Dawn, Karachi-based political analyst Kunwar Idris, a widely respected former bureaucrat, termed the advice to test as "jingoistic, emotional or selfish, but not sincere". It was being offered, he pointed out, by an opposition leader "who is fighting for her political survival", by "politicians lost in the political labyrinth", by "retired generals with political ambitions but no programme", and "demagogues who will not suffer its consequences".