Islamabad: In a significant show of solidarity with Pakistan, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has strengthened the emergency response capacity of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) by training Rescue 1122 personnel and equipping the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) with essential rescue gear after the recent devastating floods.
The northern regions of Pakistan, including AJK, were battered by severe floods in August 2025, leaving communities vulnerable to future disasters. In response, TİKA launched a project in Muzaffarabad aimed at enhancing the preparedness and effectiveness of Rescue 1122 under SDMA.
As part of the initiative, a three-day intensive training program was held for rescuers and volunteers. Participants were trained in lifesaving interventions such as Basic Life Support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as advanced disaster response skills including flood rescue operations, high-angle rescue, rope systems, and the use of emergency equipment.
To complement the training, TİKA handed over a wide range of modern equipment to SDMA, including three motorbike ambulances, two rescue motorbikes, one inflatable rescue boat, a drone for aerial surveillance, specialized water rescue kits, and first aid supplies. Officials said the addition of these resources will significantly improve the ability of Rescue 1122 teams to reach disaster-hit communities quickly and save lives.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, SDMA AJK Director General Sardar Waheed Khan hailed the Turkish support as another chapter in the deep-rooted friendship between the people of Türkiye and Kashmir. “The friendship and brotherhood between the people of Türkiye and Kashmir have been proven time and again. This project, which enhances the response capacity of AJK 1122, is yet another renewal of these strong bonds,” he said.
On behalf of TİKA, Country Coordinator Saliha Tuna stressed that the initiative was not just a response to recent floods but a long-term investment in community resilience. “Through this project, we aim not only to strengthen emergency response capacity, but also to support SDMA in training hundreds of volunteers in the coming years. This will enhance preparedness at the grassroots level. Türkiye will always stand with Pakistan and AJK in times of need,” she said.
Officials and rescuers present at the ceremony noted that the floods in AJK exposed gaps in emergency services, particularly in reaching remote areas and managing mass rescues. They expressed hope that the skills and equipment provided through TİKA’s support will help minimize casualties and losses in future disasters.
This latest initiative is part of Türkiye’s longstanding tradition of extending timely humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in moments of crisis. After the catastrophic earthquake of October 2005 that devastated Muzaffarabad and surrounding districts of AJK, Turkish rescue teams were among the first to arrive, conducting life-saving operations and setting up field hospitals. The Turkish government later financed major reconstruction projects in the region, including the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, and housing units.
Similarly, during the historic floods of 2010 and again in 2022, Türkiye extended generous support through relief goods, medical supplies, and reconstruction assistance. Turkish humanitarian organizations worked closely with Pakistani authorities to reach families stranded by rising waters, while TİKA itself launched rehabilitation projects in flood-affected Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Analysts point out that this consistent assistance has helped cement Türkiye’s position as one of Pakistan’s most reliable partners during natural disasters. Beyond immediate relief, Turkish agencies have focused on building local capacity, ensuring that communities in vulnerable regions are better prepared to withstand future shocks.
Officials from SDMA said the latest project is a major step in equipping AJK’s emergency services with both knowledge and technology to respond to an increasing number of climate-driven disasters. They highlighted that while floods have always posed a risk in the mountainous terrain of Kashmir, the frequency and intensity of such events have grown in recent years due to climate change, glacier melting, and erratic monsoon patterns.
“The challenge today is not just to respond after a disaster strikes, but to ensure our teams and communities are prepared beforehand,” one senior SDMA official said. “Support like this from TİKA helps us move from reaction to preparedness.”
Pakistan and Türkiye share more than diplomatic ties, with both countries often describing their relationship as one rooted in brotherhood. The visible support during calamities has only reinforced that sentiment at the public level, with Kashmiri communities especially recalling Turkish assistance in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake as a turning point in recovery.
As AJK braces for the growing threat of climate-induced disasters, the latest support from Türkiye is being seen not just as emergency aid, but as an investment in resilience and disaster preparedness that will benefit communities for years to come.
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