Gilgit-Baltistan is a land of breathtaking beauty, towering mountains, glaciers, and scenic valleys — but its mountains, rivers, and snow carry not only beauty, but also a dangerous side. Every year, the region faces natural disasters such as GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods), cloudbursts, landslides, and heavy rain and snowfall, causing loss of life and property. These trials of nature often arrive silently, sweeping away everything in their path — homes, children, dreams, and hopes.
And in such moments, when fear, helplessness, and destruction surround the people, the Pakistan Army steps in immediately.
This is the same army that not only stands guard against enemies at the borders but also reaches the frontlines inside the country during every crisis. From giving their lives to saving lives, they carry out their duty of protection in every test, in every hardship, and in every disaster.
Speaking of recent times — during the 2024–2025 monsoon season, heavy rains and cloudbursts in various parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Diamer, Thalichi, Babusar, Darel Tangir, Ghizer, and Gilgit city, triggered landslides and floods that caused massive destruction.
In Ghizer’s Ishkoman, Punial, and Gupis areas, homes were flooded, bridges were washed away, and dozens of families were displaced. In Gilgit city, drains near the Governor House overflowed, markets shut down, and people were trapped inside their homes. Dozens of houses, connecting roads, bridges, crops, and livestock were swept away. At least five people lost their lives, and many were injured. The most difficult challenge was the loss of access — no help could reach, no communication could be established.
And in that moment, the Pakistan Army soldiers were the first to arrive.
Helicopter rescue operations were launched, landslide-blocked roads were cleared, the injured were given medical aid, and food and water were delivered to remote areas. In dangerous places like Babusar and Thalichi — where no one else could reach — army personnel arrived, pulled people from under the debris, and moved women and children to safety.
This is not a one-time incident — it’s a pattern.
Looking back over the past decade, in every natural disaster in Gilgit-Baltistan, the Pakistan Army has been on the frontlines. In 2010, 2015, 2022, and now 2024–2025 — in every major flood, snowstorm, or landslide — the Army has worked alongside NDMA, GBDMA, and local administrations to conduct timely rescue and relief operations.
In 2022, UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) specifically praised the Pakistan Army’s role in responding to GLOF events in Gilgit-Baltistan. That same year, only in Gilgit-Baltistan, 627 helicopter sorties rescued 4,659 people, more than 1.1 million people received medical assistance, and thousands of tons of relief goods were distributed.
These are not just numbers — they are proof of thousands of lives saved, tears wiped away, and prayers answered.
Not only that — in the 2012 Siachen Gayari avalanche, where over 130 soldiers were martyred, the Pakistan Army carried out the most difficult rescue operation in the world. More than 450 personnel and advanced machinery worked to reach the soldiers buried under snow — it wasn’t just duty, it was a pledge.
This institution is not just the guardian of our borders — it is the shield that stands whenever the entire nation is under trial.
When darkness spreads everywhere, when fragile homes are swept away by water, when children go hungry, when a mother sits under the open sky holding her children, the Pakistan Army emerges as the first ray of hope.
Soldiers not only face enemy bullets on the mountains, but in those same mountains they also dig with shovels to free people trapped under landslides. They not only remove landmines but also carry people on their shoulders through floodwaters to safe places. They not only guard the borders from enemy threats and schemes but also protect the nation from natural disasters.
The Pakistan Army does not only serve on the border or appear during wartime — it is the first to step forward in every hardship and disaster, risking their lives to protect the people and the country. The Pakistan Army is not merely a military force — it is a symbol of national security, service, sacrifice, and dedication. It is the spirit that arrives first in every difficult time and stays until the very end. From defending the homeland to upholding the law, serving people during natural disasters, and safeguarding human lives — this institution is always present, always ready.
The sad reality is that we often shout “Pakistan Army Zindabad” only in times of war, but their true heroics are witnessed during these days of calamity. Therefore, it is important that we do not limit our appreciation of their role to emergencies alone. We must remember their sacrifices, understand their dedication, and offer them respect, love, and trust — not just in crises, but every single day.
Because whenever disaster strikes, whenever darkness falls, whenever a mother’s cry for help rises — the very first to arrive… will be the Pakistan Army.
Written by: Suhana Kali
Translated by: Tourism Guide Book