OCTOBER 8, 2005 remains one of the darkest and most unforgettable days in the history of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In a matter of seconds, a powerful earthquake destroyed homes, schools, roads and bridges, claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, its epicentre was near Muzaffarabad. Pakistan suffered an estimated 73,000 deaths, while the social, economic and administrative fabric of the affected region was shattered. Muzaffarabad suffered the greatest devastation, while Bagh, Poonch, Rawalakot, Sudhanoti and other mountainous areas also experienced heavy losses. Among the most painful images were children trapped beneath collapsed school buildings. Thousands of educational institutions were destroyed or damaged, along with hospitals, government offices, communication networks, electricity systems and vital infrastructure. It became a profound humanitarian and development crisis. Yet, amid this devastation, another chapter of national history was written. When roads were blocked, communications disrupted and entire communities isolated, Pakistan’s Armed Forces, particularly the Pakistan Army, moved rapidly into action. Their response became an extraordinary humanitarian mission.
Army engineers began opening vital routes almost immediately. Military helicopters evacuated the injured to hospitals in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Abbottabad, while troops, medical teams and engineers reached remote areas that were inaccessible. They rescued people from collapsed structures, provided emergency medical care, distributed food and tents, cleared debris, repaired roads, established temporary bridges and helped provide shelter against winter. This effort extended across Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Poonch, Neelum and other difficult mountainous regions, and remains an enduring part of the collective memory of Azad Kashmir.
The international community also stood with Pakistan and AJK. The United Nations, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Germany and other countries and institutions provided financial, technical and humanitarian assistance. A joint World Bank and Asian Development Bank assessment estimated reconstruction and recovery needs at approximately $5.2 billion. NATO, at Pakistan’s request, also contributed engineering, medical and logistical support. Muslim countries, including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, played important roles in relief and reconstruction. Within Pakistan, people from Karachi to Khyber and Lahore to Quetta donated money, relief goods and blood, demonstrating remarkable national solidarity. The next challenge was reconstruction. The Government of Pakistan established the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), while rehabilitation programmes were undertaken in AJK. Homes, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, water and electricity systems and public buildings were rebuilt through an extensive reconstruction effort. Direct assistance to affected families for housing was also provided.
Yet every anniversary must also be a moment of reflection. The lessons of 2005 demand stronger earthquake-resistant construction, safer schools and hospitals, reliable emergency communications, effective rescue services and trained local volunteers. Disaster preparedness must remain a permanent priority, particularly in AJK. The bond between Pakistan and Azad Kashmir has also been reaffirmed repeatedly. After returning to Pakistan from a prolonged period of exile, former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited AJK and expressed solidarity with earthquake victims. That gesture reflected the enduring connection between Pakistan and the people of Azad Kashmir. Today, Pakistan’s federal leadership continues to attach importance to AJK’s development and public welfare. Federal cooperation in health, education, roads, infrastructure, energy, tourism and public services remains part of this relationship. The present PML-N government in AJK, led by Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani, is likewise pursuing development and public welfare. The journey from the tragedy of 8 October 2005 to reconstruction and development carries a profound national lesson: disasters may destroy buildings, but they cannot defeat the courage of a united people.
The best tribute to the martyrs of 8 October is not merely to remember them once a year, but to build an AJK that is safer, stronger, better prepared and more resilient. We must ensure earthquake-resistant construction, safer schools and hospitals, reliable emergency communications, effective rescue services and rapid-response mechanisms capable of reaching the remotest communities. The lessons of 2005 must become permanent public policy, not temporary remembrance. Twenty-one years on, the message of 8 October remains clear: we cannot prevent every earthquake, but we can prevent vulnerability from becoming tragedy. We can honour those we lost by transforming their sacrifice into a commitment to preparedness, development and human security. The real tribute to the victims will be an Azad Jammu and Kashmir that stands stronger, safer and more prosperous, while enduring bond between Pakistan and AJK continues to be reflected through solidarity, service and shared responsibility.
—The writer is a Supreme Court lawyer and former member & Chairman Standing Committee of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council. Islamabad
