**ISSI and ICIMOD Forge Strategic Partnership to Address Climate-Induced Disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region**
The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) has formalized a new partnership with Nepal’s International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to advance joint research and regional collaboration on climate-induced disasters. The agreement underscores a shared commitment to tackling the growing impacts of climate change across the eight countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
The partnership was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ISSI’s Director General, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, and ICIMOD’s Director General, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho. The signing ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Nepal, Ambassador Abrar H Hashmi, alongside senior representatives from both organizations.
Prior to the formal agreement, the ISSI’s Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) hosted a productive roundtable featuring Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, where both sides engaged in detailed discussions on research priorities and regional climate challenges. These exchanges identified significant opportunities for collaboration, reflecting a strong alignment between ISSI’s research focus and ICIMOD’s mission of fostering mountain development and resilience in the region.
The discourse highlighted the urgent need for enhanced regional cooperation to address pressing issues such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), mounting air pollution, and the ongoing degradation of the Indus river basin. Both institutions emphasized the necessity of strengthening institutional capacities to respond effectively to these environmental threats, underscoring the value of research, policy dialogue, and joint capacity-building initiatives.
A key outcome of the discussions was the recognition of the importance of robust knowledge-sharing and data exchange. ISSI and ICIMOD agreed to undertake joint research projects, organize policy discussions, and develop targeted programs for climate risk mitigation. Special emphasis was placed on inclusive engagement, which involves the active participation of governments, civil society, academic networks, and other regional stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with consensus on the need to transcend national boundaries and adopt a transboundary approach. Participants stressed that climate change and environmental challenges are not confined by political borders, advocating the integration of early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and culturally-relevant preventive strategies into both national and regional plans. This partnership represents a pivotal step towards more coordinated, holistic efforts to build resilience against climate-induced disasters in the HKH region.
