In light of escalating tensions following India’s provocative actions, air raid sirens have been installed in 29 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to warn the public of potential aerial threats.
According to an official statement from the Directorate of Civil Defence, 50 heavy-duty sirens, each weighing 120 kilograms and capable of broadcasting alerts over a 15-kilometre radius, have been strategically deployed across key districts, including Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mardan, Kohat, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Malakand, Lower Dir, Lower Chitral, Kurram, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Bajaur, Haripur, Mansehra, Upper Dir, Shangla, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Khyber, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Battagram, Tank, and Orakzai.
The primary goal of these sirens is to alert civilians in the event of a potential airstrike, enabling them to take the necessary precautions. Civil Defence officials have been directed to ensure the functionality and readiness of the sirens at all times.
This measure comes after a series of escalating and unwarranted actions by India, which, in the aftermath of the April 22 attack on local tourists in Pahalgam, resorted to baseless accusations against Pakistan. India also moved to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical agreement between the two nations, and issued orders for Pakistani diplomats to leave India by April 30, 2025. In addition, India controversially canceled visas for Pakistani nationals, a decision that further contributed to the rising hostility.
In response, Pakistan’s National Security Committee took strong, yet measured steps by limiting the Indian diplomatic presence in Pakistan to just 30 personnel. The Committee also issued a stern warning, emphasizing that any action to block Pakistan’s water supply would be deemed an act of war, as water remains the lifeblood of the country.
The global community has expressed increasing concern over the situation, with Pakistan raising the issue of the Jaffer Express attack at the United Nations and directly holding India accountable for the escalating violence. Despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offering to accept impartial investigations into the Pahalgam incident, India continues to reject peace efforts and instead pursues a dangerous path of aggression.
Calls for de-escalation have come from both the United States and the United Nations, urging India to step back from its hostile stance. However, India has shown no intention of easing tensions, opting to maintain its aggressive posture.
