The day before Christmas in 1956, Nazir Ahmad, head of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission met with England’s John Cockcroft (I’m not sure where, either in London or Harwell). Cockcroft was famously internationalist and forever battling isolationist Christopher Hinton, but even Cockcroft had to tread warily in this meeting, for how to treat Pakistan viz a viz India was a geopolitical issue. We can see the diplomatic dance in these meeting minutes (taken by Cockcroft in his usual precise, efficient manner). Of Ahmad’s eight requests, Cockcroft only committed to help on two of them, the two most trivial.
Dr. Nazir Ahmad asked whether the U.K. could provide the following assistance to Pakistan.
Cockcroft, John. 1957. Note on a discussion with Dr. Nazir Ahmad on 24.12.56. AB 6/1414. National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.
1. Scientific Adviser. He would like us to second a scientific adviser for a period of 6-12 months to assist in planning their organisation, siting their reactor, selection of equipment etc. He should be available as soon as possible and preferably before March 1957. He would be glad for him to be part of the Colombo Plan.
2. Training of Pakistan scientists in reactor work. He would like to have three or four Pakistan scientists now training in U.K. to be admitted to the Reactor School preferably in February 1957. … After going through the school he would like them to work at Harwell for 2-3 months on experiments connected with reactors, e.g. corrosion, heat exchange, and shielding. After this batch he would like to send a further batch of about six.
3. Health physics training. He would like to send two or three students to the course which is being organized for W.H.O. After this course he would like them to have some practical training on the job.
4. Training in exponential or zero energy experiments. He would like to send Dr. Ahmad, a member of his staff who has previously worked at the reactor school to work on zero energy or exponential experiments – preferably on water reactors.
5. Training in radiological aspects of civil defense. …
6. Training in electronics. …
7. Reactor. He has been considering the purchase of a Merlin or U.S. swimming pool reactor but was dubious whether they would ultimately be powerful enough for his requirement and for this reason is also interested in a C.P.5 or DIDO reactor. He would not be able to operate more than one shift and at half time for a time for financial reasons. I promised to send general information about DIDO with details of access holes etc. He asked for the cost of fuel elements and reprocessing charges – we must get on fixing these.
8. Electronics equipment. I promised to send catalogues.
