Devastation of Environment and Indigenous Culture: An Eco-critical Analysis of War Conditions in Nadeem Aslam’s The Wasted Vigil

War ravages both the land and the identity of a nation. At the intersection of ecological and cultural devastation, the novel reflects the consequences of war on both Afghanistan’s natural landscape and its heritage. This study aim to highlight the portrayal of the destruction wrought by war conditions. The paper investigates how the novel reflects the degradation of the environment, the contamination of essential natural resources and the militarization of once-sacred spaces. The study uses Deep Ecology theory of Arne Naess (Naess 1973), which underscores the intrinsic value of nature and critiques anthropocentric destruction. The study explores the obliteration of indigenous agricultural practices and the loss of ecological knowledge by highlighting the collapse of Afghan culture and identity. The study argues that Aslam illuminates the inextricable link between environmental degradation and cultural disintegration, urging a reconsideration of ecological and humanitarian justice in post-war conditions.