Pakistan Ranked 2nd in Global Terrorism Index
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan has become the second most affected country by terrorism in the world.
According to the report, terrorist attacks increased by 45 percent during the past year, resulting in 1,081 deaths.
The report, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), presents a comprehensive analysis of terrorism trends over the past 17 years.
The report ranks 163 countries in the world based on the impact of terrorism, which includes indicators such as the number of terrorist incidents, deaths, injuries, and hostages.
This is the fifth consecutive year in which deaths due to terrorism have increased.
The number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan increased from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, exceeding 1,000 for the first time since the launch of the Global Terrorism Index.
Increase in terrorist attacks worldwide
According to the 12th annual Global Terrorism Index, the number of countries recording terrorist attacks has increased from 58 to 66.
This has undermined the improvements achieved in the past decade, as the situation has worsened in 45 countries while 34 countries have improved. According to the report, the increase in attacks by terrorist groups in 2024 led to an 11% increase in deaths.
The Gaza conflict has increased instability in the Middle East, while hate crimes have increased in Western countries.
The highest number of deaths from terrorism worldwide in 2024 occurred in Burkina Faso, Pakistan, and Syria. Burkina Faso recorded a fifth of global terrorism deaths.
Rising terrorism in Pakistan and its drivers
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has become the fastest-growing terrorist group in Pakistan, responsible for 90% of the country’s deaths. TTP attacks accounted for 52% of the deaths in 2024.
Last year, 558 people were killed in 482 TTP attacks, a 91% increase compared to 2023.
According to the report, terrorism in Pakistan has increased significantly since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan.
Terrorist groups have increased their activities along the Pak-Afghan border, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being the most affected provinces.
More than 96% of the terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan in 2024 occurred in the western border areas.
The TTP has been granted greater freedom since the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which has given it more safe havens and impunity to plan attacks.
The group has been trying to undermine state authority by targeting security forces and infrastructure, in response to which the Pakistani government has launched the counter-terrorism operation “Determination of Stability”.
Rise in Baloch militancy
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan in 2024, when a suicide bombing at the Quetta railway station killed at least 25 civilians and soldiers.
There has been a significant increase in the activities of Baloch militant groups, such as the BLA and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
Attacks by these groups increased from 116 in 2023 to 504 in 2024, while the number of deaths increased from 88 to 388, a four-fold increase.
The BLA and other Baloch groups are taking advantage of the ongoing instability in Pakistan and opposing state policies, particularly the exploitation of natural resources and initiatives related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
These groups argue that Balochistan’s resources are being exploited while the local population is not benefiting.
