AJK Schools Transform Playing Fields into First Aid Camps Amidst Rising Tensions

School grounds in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are being repurposed into essential first aid training locations for children, preparing them to respond effectively in the event of a conflict with India.

Konain Bibi, a 13-year-old, was seen carefully absorbing her first aid lesson, complete with a protective helmet and bright vest.

“Given the threats from India, a war is possible, and we must all support one another,” she stated.

Pakistan has expressed concerns, citing “reliable intelligence” suggesting an impending military action by India.

Relations between the two nuclear powers have deteriorated significantly following a tragic incident involving an attack on tourists in Pahalgam, within Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the previous week.

India attributes the April 22 gun attack, which resulted in 26 fatalities, to Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted his military “complete operational freedom.” Islamabad, however, has refuted any involvement and proposed cooperation in a transparent and trustworthy inquiry into the incident.

There are over 6,000 educational institutions, including 1,195 near the Line of Control (LoC), situated on the Pakistani side of the border.

This week, local officials initiated first aid training, instructing students on how to safely evacuate through windows, utilize inflatable slides, and properly carry injured individuals.

According to emergency personnel, training sessions have already been conducted in 13 schools located in Muzaffarabad, AJK’s largest city.

Abdul Basit Moughal, a trainer from Pakistan’s Civil Defence directorate, stated, “Schools are typically the first to be impacted during an emergency, which is why we are prioritizing evacuation training for schoolchildren.”

The agency intends to send its rescue teams to schools along the LoC in the coming days.

“We are learning how to assist our peers and administer first aid should India launch an attack,” mentioned 12-year-old Faizan Ahmed, as fellow students observed an instructor demonstrating the use of a fire extinguisher.

Ali Raza, age eleven, added, “We now know how to bandage wounds, transport individuals on stretchers, and extinguish fires.”

Approximately 1.5 million people reside in close proximity to the Line of Control on the Pakistani side, where inhabitants are preparing for potential violence by constructing basic, mud-walled underground bunkers, reinforced with concrete where resources allow.

Iftikhar Ahmad Mir, a 44-year-old shopkeeper from Chakothi, shared, “We have been living in constant anxiety for the past week.”

Regarding the local children, he further stated, “We are deeply concerned about their safety en route to school, given that the Indian army has targeted this area in the past.”

“We ensure they return straight home after school and avoid wandering around.”