Quranic Schools in Pakistan’s Kashmir Closed amid Tensions with India

IQNA – More than 1,000 Quranic schools in Pakistan-administered Kashmir were closed Thursday as tensions between India and Pakistan are escalating.

The escalation follows last week’s deadly terrorist attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir. 

Hafiz Nazeer Ahmed, head of the local religious affairs department, said a 10-day break has been announced for 1,100 Quranic schools in Kashmir, where thousands of children are learning the Quran, swissinfo.ch reported.

A local source in Pakistan-administered Kashmir said the closure was due to border tensions and the potential for conflict with India.

A recent deadly terrorist attack in the Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people and wounded many more.

The Pahalgam attack, which occurred on April 22, was the deadliest targeting of civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir in over two decades.

In response to the attack, both countries have taken tit-for-tat measures.

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a water-sharing agreement mediated by the World Bank and signed in 1960, and closed the Wagah-Attari border crossing. Pakistan has suspended visas issued to Indian nationals and closed its airspace to Indian airlines.​

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the rising tensions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held separate discussions with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar this week, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent any confrontation that could have devastating consequences.

Guterres reiterated the UN's commitment to peace and offered support for efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation.​

4279665