Climate change has compounded natural disasters, making them increasingly complex and challenging to manage as security issues, particularly for climate-vulnerable states with inadequate infrastructure. Pakistan, one of the countries most exposed to climate risks over the past two decades, has experienced regular floods, heatwaves, earthquakes, and glacial incidents. Pakistan’s disaster management framework, viewed through the lens of human security, highlights the involvement of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the supporting role of the Pakistan Army in mass-scale disaster relief operations. The collaboration between the NDMA and the Pakistan Army, leveraging the latter’s infrastructure and rapid-response capabilities, has been central to the state’s resilience. Under the leadership of CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, emphasis on disaster preparedness and post-event learning has strengthened disaster response as a non-coercive instrument of strategic significance in a climate-challenged state.
There has been growing recognition of the link between climate change and security. Extreme weather events are increasingly described as “threat multipliers,” exacerbating pre-existing risks and placing exceptional demands on state capacity. Pakistan exemplifies the consequences of the climate-security nexus. Although it is one of the least-polluting countries internationally, it has been repeatedly affected by climate-related disasters, including the major floods of 2010, 2022, and 2025.
Disaster management is no longer simply a matter of charity; it requires the same legitimacy and capacity that the State exercises in other core responsibilities, such as ensuring access to water, healthcare, and electricity. In Pakistan, the State is expected to ensure citizen survival and basic services, highlighting the importance of an effective disaster management framework.
Established as the primary civilian agency responsible for disaster management, the NDMA functions as a coordinating body across federal, provincial, and local government levels. It is charged with assessing risks, issuing early warnings, and coordinating emergency responses. As a civilian authority, the NDMA draws on the capacities of multiple actors, including non-state entities, during disasters.
However, the magnitude and complexity of disasters in Pakistan sometimes exceed the capabilities of civil agencies. Flood-affected areas often include remote regions with difficult terrain, areas under restricted access, and locations requiring urgent evacuations. In such cases, the NDMA’s coordination relies heavily on the State’s resources, with the Pakistan Army serving as the primary first responder due to its nationwide presence and logistical capacity.
The Army’s role is largely operational, providing airlift, engineering, medical, and communications support when civil mechanisms are insufficient. In major floods, military helicopters have been essential for evacuating residents, while engineer units have repaired roads, bridges, and embankments. Medical corps units have offered temporary healthcare in rural areas, addressing immediate medical needs following disasters. These actions align closely with the principles of human security.
This civilian-led coordination, supported by military implementation, reinforces civilian authority while maintaining the capacity to respond effectively to disasters. Flood relief operations illustrate the evolution of Pakistan’s disaster response system. In recent large-scale floods, the NDMA organised relief activities, while the Pakistan Army focused on rapid response, including evacuating stranded populations, delivering supplies, and restoring access to isolated areas.
These efforts demonstrate institutional learning. Compared with previous decades, Pakistan’s disaster response has improved in terms of planning, positioning, and communication. Challenges remain in long-term rehabilitation and climate adaptation, but institutional frameworks are strengthening.
Leadership priorities, particularly under CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, have shaped disaster preparedness and coordination. Readiness, discipline, and inter-agency synergy have been emphasised, with a focus on contingency planning and supporting civilian-led disaster governance rather than reactive mobilisation. This approach reflects a broader understanding of security, extending beyond traditional threats. Military leadership has reinforced state capacity to address non-traditional security challenges through institutional support of NDMA-led frameworks, without politicising humanitarian operations.
Crucially, this highlights the Army’s role as a facilitator within civilian and constitutional institutions, upholding professionalism while addressing urgent human needs.
Pakistan’s security strategy in a climate-stressed future also includes ecological stability and sustainable resilience. Initiatives such as large-scale afforestation, olive tree planting in arid and semi-arid regions, mangrove restoration, and watershed management aim to reduce soil erosion, mitigate flooding, and support sustainable livelihoods. Civil institutions lead these programmes, with state agencies providing logistical and planning support as needed. Pakistan’s climate security strategy thus integrates environmental recovery with resilience planning, shifting the focus from reactive disaster response to proactive prevention.
Effective disaster response also strengthens strategic legitimacy without relying on coercion. When citizens witness successful relief and rescue efforts, trust in the State is enhanced through performance. For a climate-vulnerable country like Pakistan, this is particularly significant.
Internationally, Pakistan’s experience offers valuable lessons for other developing nations facing climate risks. The integration of civilian disaster management with military logistical support demonstrates an effective model for coping with natural disasters.
With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, the capacity of states to respond is emerging as a central measure of human security. In Pakistan, the NDMA and the operational capabilities of the Pakistan Army play a vital role in fostering resilience. Under CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, disaster response has been strengthened as an institutional priority. While response alone cannot address structural vulnerabilities, it remains crucial for saving lives and enhancing state legitimacy in service delivery. This approach will continue to be essential for Pakistan and other countries facing climate-related threats.
