By Elsa Imdad Afghanistan, often associated with conflict and political instability, is facing a different yet equally devastating crisis: its extreme vulnerability to natural and climatic disasters. Ranked as the second most disaster-prone country in the world, only behind Haiti, Afghanistan's susceptibility to hazards like floods, earthquakes, and droughts is exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation. While global focus often centres on Afghanistan's security challenges, its growing climate vulnerability presents an urgent and often overlooked threat to its stability and future. A Nation at the Mercy of Nature Out of every one million Afghans, 1,150 die each year due to various natural disasters. These figures reflect not only a tragic loss of life but also extensive economic damages that deepen poverty, especially in rural and vulnerable communities. While the human cost is heart-wrenching, the socioeconomic toll—destroyed infrastructure, displacement, and economic paralysis—amplifies the suffering. Poorer regions, already struggling with the basic necessities of life, experience twice the impact of natural disasters compared to wealthier areas. Flooding: A Recurring Catastrophe Flooding remains Afghanistan’s most frequent natural disaster, affecting over 100,000 people annually. Climate change, alongside population growth, is expected to increase this number drastically by 2050. Regions such as Kabul, Hairatan, and the Helmand Basin are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their proximity to rivers, which are primarily fed by melting glaciers and seasonal snowmelt from mountain ranges. Recent events illustrate the devastating impact of floods. In May 2024, severe flooding in eastern Afghanistan claimed 40 lives, injured 350 people, and displaced 1,500 children. With significant infrastructure damage in areas like Nangarhar and Kunar, the country faces an uphill battle in rebuilding. Earthquakes: A Constant Threat Afghanistan lies in a...

The branding of TTP as modern Khawarij reflects Pakistan’s broader counterterrorism strategy: ideologically deligitimizing the “mischief making group” while simultaneously tackling them by force. In a notable shift, the Pakistani government has officially designated the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij.” This decision marks a shift from addressing the group’s threat purely through military means to engaging in an ideological battle. The Ministry of Interior issued a notification requiring all state institutions to prefix the term "Khariji" to the names of individuals involved in terrorist activities. This aims to expose the distorted ideology of such groups that misuse religion to justify their violence. Additionally, titles like 'Mufti' and 'Hafiz' will no longer be associated with individuals linked to terrorism. This strategic move, as terrorist attacks intensify, underscores the government’s efforts to discredit and undermine extremist elements, emphasizing that they have no genuine connection to Islam or Pakistan. [1] The term "Kharijites" refers to early Muslim groups who broke away from mainstream Islam. Known as "the secessionists”, they separated themselves from both the Shiʿites and the early Sunni communities. Initially, they supported Ali (the fourth caliph) during the first major Islamic civil war, or first fitna. However, dissatisfaction with Ali's decision to settle a dispute through arbitration led some followers to leave his army and form their own group, thus becoming the first Kharijites. [2] Though a historical phenomenon, the radical mindset of the Khawarij persists even today. They were known for their extreme and rigid stance against corruption, injustice, and violations of Islamic law, believing that only those who meet specific criteria of justice and competence should lead the Muslim community. Their stringent views often led them to adopt controversial and unacceptable measures, including violence and...