Why are earthquakes common in northern and western Pakistan?

Earthquakes are frequent in northern and western Pakistan because the region is part of a geologically young and tectonically active mountain system. These mountains, including the Himalayas, the Karakoram Range, and the Hindu Kush, were formed by the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian continental plates, a process that began approximately 50 million years ago.123

Because this collision continues today, the region remains seismically active as the mountains continue to rise. The Hindu Kush and the Pamirs are particularly notable for being one of the most seismically active intermediate-depth earthquake zones in the world. While minor tremors are common throughout these areas, the region is also prone to severe, destructive earthquakes, the impact of which is often exacerbated by poor construction standards and the precarious location of many mountain settlements.321