The Night Everything Changed
The mountains of Kashmir have always stood as a symbol of beauty, resilience, and pain.
But on 7 May 2025, that beauty was eclipsed by terror.
As night cloaked the valleys, a different sound echoed across the mountains — not the melody of rivers or laughter of children, but the thunder of missiles, the rattle of gunfire, and the cries of the innocent.
In the early hours, India launched an aggressive military operation — Operation Sindoor — striking deep into Pakistani-administered Kashmir, targeting regions including Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh. What followed was a night of fire and fear that would be remembered for generations.
The ground shook with every explosion. The sky, once a canvas of stars, turned red with flame and smoke. Villages that had stood for centuries crumbled in seconds.
Imagine: it’s just past midnight in a small village near Muzaffarabad. Families are asleep, wrapped in thin blankets against the cold mountain air. Then, without warning, the silence shatters. A roar so loud it feels like the mountains themselves are crying.
Walls collapse. Glass shatters. Children scream in terror.
Animals scatter into the dark. Mothers clutch their babies, running barefoot through the dust and smoke, searching for safety that no longer exists.
The air fills with the metallic scent of blood and burning wood. Dust clogs the lungs, making every breath a battle.
Kashmir — the land once called Jannat Nazeer, heaven on earth — became a living nightmare.
The Faces Behind the Fire
Among the thousands fleeing that night was Amira, a 12-year-old girl from Kotli.
She was known in her village for her kindness, her laughter, and her dream — to become a teacher one day. She would gather her little brothers and sisters under the fruit tree outside her home and pretend to take attendance, just like the teachers she admired.
That night, as the missiles rained down, Amira’s dream collapsed with the walls of her home. A piece of shrapnel tore through her leg as she shielded her younger brother. Her screams were lost in the chaos.
Now, she lies in a crowded emergency ward, bandaged and pale. Her eyes, once full of curiosity, stare blankly at the ceiling.
“I only asked Allah to protect my family,” she whispered. “I didn’t know I would have to pray to survive my own home.”
Amira is one of hundreds of children now recovering from burns, fractures, and trauma. Many have lost parents, siblings, or entire families. Their playgrounds are rubble. Their futures uncertain.
For every Amira in Kotli, there is a mother in Bagh, a father in Muzaffarabad, a grandparent in Leepa — all living the same horror in different forms.
A Wound That Bleeds Across Borders
The world watched as headlines appeared on international channels: “India conducts surgical strikes across the Line of Control.”
But for the people on the ground, there was nothing “surgical” about it.
Homes, mosques, and schools were reduced to dust. Entire communities — civilians with no connection to the conflict — were caught in the crossfire.
Markets were flattened. Prayer halls collapsed.
Where the call to prayer once rose, now only the sound of mourning remains.
Adding insult to injury, even the Pahalgam attack on the Indian side of Kashmir was politicised, used as justification for more violence. The Kashmiri people — already oppressed, already voiceless — found themselves blamed and bombed in equal measure.
Kashmir’s people are not soldiers. They are not political pawns.
They are human beings, seeking peace, dignity, and the right to live without fear.
Voices from the Valley
As the smoke cleared over Kotli, our Kashmir Welfare Foundation Emergency Response Team arrived on the ground.
What we saw was beyond words.
Families searching through the rubble with bare hands. Mothers crying over bodies wrapped in blankets. The silence of shock hanging over villages that had once been full of life.
In the district hospital, our volunteers met Dr. Farooq, a local physician who hadn’t slept in two days. “We’ve treated more than 120 wounded already,” he said, wiping the dust from his face. “Most of them are children. We need medicines, bandages, blood — anything you can bring.”
One of our ambulances, recently repositioned from Neelum Valley as part of our Emergency Relief – Ambulance Response in Kashmir, became a lifeline that night. It carried the wounded across dangerous, broken roads to safety.
In the chaos, every second mattered.
Every heartbeat we could save felt like a small victory against the darkness.
Our Plea: End the Violence
We at Kashmir Welfare Foundation are not politicians or soldiers.
We are humanitarians, driven by faith and compassion.
We have seen the faces of the displaced. We have wiped the tears of widows. We have heard the trembling voices of orphans asking, “When will it stop?”
We call upon the world: Enough is enough.
Stop the bombs. Stop the bloodshed. Stop treating Kashmir like a chessboard for power.
Kashmir’s people have carried the burden of others’ wars for too long. They deserve peace, safety, and a chance to rebuild their lives.
We urge the international community to act with courage and conscience — to condemn the strikes, to demand humanitarian corridors, and to protect civilians caught in the crossfire.
Because for every day this conflict continues, it is the innocent — the Amiras of Kashmir — who pay the price.
Stand with Kashmir in Their Darkest Hour
Right now, Kashmir trembles under the weight of war. Shelling rains down on villages. Thousands are displaced. Families go hungry, sleeping in makeshift shelters, praying for dawn.
And yet, amid the destruction, hope still flickers.
Through our Emergency Response Budget, we have mobilised immediate aid to the hardest-hit regions:
- Field hospitals to treat the wounded.
- Hot meals for those who have lost everything.
- Food packs to sustain displaced families.
- Medical care and psychological support for traumatised children and the elderly.
This Emergency Budget wasn’t built for headlines. It was built for moments like this — when hesitation costs lives.
But as needs grow, so must our response.
We need your help to keep our ambulances running, to replenish emergency medicine, to provide food and shelter for those who have nowhere else to go.
Every donation is a lifeline.
Every act of compassion is a stand against injustice.
How You Can Help
The people of Kashmir need you now more than ever.
Your Sadaqah, Zakat, or Regular Giving can help us reach those who are cold, hungry, injured, and afraid. Your generosity can turn fear into hope, pain into healing.
When you give to Kashmir Welfare Foundation, you are not just donating to a cause — you are standing shoulder to shoulder with your Kashmiri brothers and sisters.
Let us prove that when war tries to divide, faith brings us together.
May Allah protect the people of Kashmir.
May He bring justice to the oppressed and peace to our lands.
Ameen.
Kashmir Crisis FAQs
1. What is the Kashmir LOC Appeal?
The Kashmir LOC Appeal is a humanitarian emergency fund launched by Kashmir Welfare Foundation to support civilians affected by violence along the Line of Control. It provides medical aid, food, shelter, and psychosocial support during crises.
2. How are donations used in war emergencies?
Funds are immediately directed to field hospitals, ambulances, and relief distribution in affected villages. Kashmir Welfare Foundation ensures transparency and rapid deployment during active emergencies.
3. Why should UK donors give to Kashmir?
Because UK support sustains life-saving work on the ground. Your pounds convert directly into food packs, emergency kits, and medical care for families who have lost everything.
4. Is this appeal politically motivated?
No. Kashmir Welfare Foundation operates purely on humanitarian and Islamic principles, helping people regardless of politics. Our mission is to relieve suffering, not fuel narratives.
5. Can I give Sadaqah or Regular Giving instead of a one-off donation?
Absolutely. Regular monthly giving helps us maintain a stable emergency budget so we can respond instantly when new crises erupt.
