Pakistan’s dual crisis: conflict and climate
Pakistan, a country historically embroiled in geopolitical conflicts, is now grappling with an even more complex challenge—one that is as natural as it is political. The latest World Risk Report, published by Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum – Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), places Pakistan among the countries with the highest exposure to conflict and disaster risks. As Pakistan re-enters the list of the most conflict-prone nations, alongside Colombia, Brazil, and Myanmar, the report sheds light on the increasingly intricate nexus of environmental vulnerability and socio-political instability.
In the context of South Asia, where multiple crises are interwoven, Pakistan stands out as a case study of how climatic disasters and conflict mutually reinforce each other. With its history of political fragility, socio-economic inequality, and strategic location between rival powers, Pakistan’s exposure to both natural and man-made crises presents a unique set of challenges for the region and the world.
Pakistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change, is well-documented. The devastating floods of 2010 and 2022, which displaced millions, are a stark reminder of the environmental fragility that has become a recurring feature of the country’s landscape. Pakistan’s geographical makeup—ranging from high-altitude glacial regions to low-lying floodplains—makes it particularly susceptible to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
However, climate change is not just an environmental concern; it is deeply entangled with Pakistan’s conflict dynamics. The report warns that natural disasters often serve as catalysts for existing conflicts. In Pakistan’s case, this is more than a theoretical possibility.........
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