As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated into armed conflict, the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) and the Pakistan Union (PKU) swiftly implemented emergency response measures to protect missionaries, church members, and institutional staff in Pakistan.
The recent drone attacks in Lahore and widespread blackouts across cities such as Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Muridke increased public anxiety. They prompted the government to intensify surveillance in the Punjab region—home to key Adventist institutions, including the Pakistan Union headquarters and Pakistan Adventist Seminary & College (PASC).
In light of these developments, PKU held an emergency meeting to assess the security risks and strengthen crisis preparedness. The meeting confirmed that while some air travel still operates through Multan and Quetta, international carriers have limited or rerouted flights, making evacuation logistics increasingly difficult. Concerned about the growing instability, church leaders reinforced safety protocols and developed contingency plans.
Each campus is forming a wartime emergency response team composed of four to five members, modeled after COVID-19 task forces. Staff are establishing a 24-hour emergency communication system to ensure reliable contact in case of urgent developments. Institutions have also taken steps to reduce nighttime visibility, strengthen on-campus security, and verify evacuation routes. Leaders are reviewing the potential use of underground shelters or concealed spaces in wooded areas as temporary refuges if conditions worsen.
PKU has secured a 15- to 30-day supply of essential resources such as food, drinking water, and medicine to support long-term resilience. Teams are inspecting emergency equipment, including manual water pumps, filtration systems, and backup generators. Meanwhile, officials have identified evacuation routes through the UAE, Dubai, and Bangkok, and are maintaining regular contact with the Korean Embassy and local airbases to monitor exit strategies.
PKU has extended special protection to missionaries serving in high-risk zones such as Sialkot, Marine K, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. The PKU and PASC campuses continue to coordinate closely. The Union is also considering early salary disbursement for pastors and staff to facilitate emergency purchases, while requesting financial support from NSD for urgent procurement needs.
As regional and international news evolves, NSD and PKU actively engage with airport authorities, assign roles to department leaders, and distribute safety guidance to church members and families nationwide. They are conducting regular checks to ensure compliance with institutional safety measures.
In this critical time, NSD calls upon the global Adventist community to pray for peace between the two nations, for the protection of missionaries and members in the region, and for wisdom and strength as the church continues its mission under challenging conditions.