Pakistan Ranks 1st in Global Terrorism Index for the First Time

Pakistan has been ranked the most terrorism-affected country in the world for the first time, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2026 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The country recorded 1,139 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, marking a 6 percent increase compared to the previous year. The report also documented 1,045 terrorist incidents during the same period.

The index evaluates 163 countries, covering nearly the entire global population, based on indicators including fatalities, incidents, injuries, and hostage-taking.

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The report highlights that Pakistan’s security challenges have intensified due to tensions with neighboring countries, particularly Afghanistan, alongside rising activity by banned groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.

Terror-related deaths in 2025 reached their highest level since 2013. The report notes that violence remains heavily concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which together accounted for over 74 percent of attacks and 67 percent of fatalities.

The report identifies the TTP as the deadliest group operating in Pakistan and the third deadliest globally. It was responsible for 637 deaths in 2025, representing 56% of all terrorism-related deaths in the country.

TTP activity rose significantly, with 595 incidents in 2025 compared to 481 in 2024, reflecting a 24 percent increase. All attacks attributed to the group occurred within Pakistan, primarily near the Afghan border.

The report also states that the TTP accounts for more than two-thirds of all attacks in Pakistan since 2009 and is responsible for five times more incidents than the second most active group, the BLA.

Pakistan recorded a sharp increase in hostage-taking incidents, rising from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025. This spike was largely driven by a single major incident involving the Jaffar Express attack, in which 442 individuals were taken hostage.

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The report links Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation to developments in Afghanistan, stating that changes in governance there have strengthened militant groups operating across the border. This has enabled expanded operational reach and increased coordination among such groups.