Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Region

Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) decided to collaborate with meteorological agencies in China and Pakistan, among others, to provide climate forecast services to countries in the Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. Consider the following statements about the HKH:

1. The HKH region encompasses an area of mountains in the seven countries of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

2. The region is considered as part of the Third Pole due to its largest permanent snow cover after the North and South poles.

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

A
Only 1
B
Only 2
C
Both 1 and 2
D
Neither 1 nor 2