The remote triggering of seismicity, controlled by dynamic stresses induced by surface waves of large teleseismic earthquakes, is a recognized and commonly observed phenomenon across a variety of tectonic environments. The collision of tectonic plates in the western Himalayas generates frequent seismic activity, making the region a focal point for seismological studies. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation of triggered seismicity in the Hindu Kush–Pamir–Tien Shan region using 26 years of continuous waveform data (December 1995–August 2021) from 55 large and shallow teleseismic earthquakes that produced dynamic stress of at least one kPa. Continuous waveform data from 31 seismic stations were analysed manually and using the STA/LTA (short-term average/long-term average) method. Our analysis revealed triggered tremors and earthquakes in the Hindu Kush and Tien Shan areas, influenced by both Love and Rayleigh waves from significant events, including the November 8, 1997 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 7.4 Xizang, November 14, 2001 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 7.8 Qinghai, December 26, 2004 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 9.0 Sumatra, March 11, 2011 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 9.1 Tohoku-Oki, April 25, 2015 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 7.9 Nepal, and the April 12, 2012 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 8.6 Indian Ocean earthquake and its largest aftershock of \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 8.2. We found the β-values > 2 for all the triggered events, indicating that statistically significant increase in the seismicity. Interestingly, low-frequency surface waves were identified as the primary drivers of both instantaneous and delayed dynamic triggering, rather than intermediate or ultra-low frequencies. Several high-magnitude mainshocks with substantial dynamic stress, such as the April 2013 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 7.7 Iran, September 2013 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 7.7 Pakistan, and February 2010 \({\text{M}}_{\text{w}}\) 8.8 Chile earthquakes, did not trigger detectable seismicity in the region. Furthermore, global comparisons suggest that the triggering threshold in the Hindu Kush region is slightly higher than in other tectonic settings. These findings underscore the importance of studying triggered seismicity to enhance our understanding of dynamic stress sensitivity and seismic hazard potential in the region.
