WEBDESK: Following a sharp rise in terrorist attacks and casualties, Pakistan has ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025.
The Global Terrorism Index 2025 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) provides a comprehensive summary of the key trends and patterns in terrorism over the last 17 years.
The report ranks 163 countries (99.7per cent of the world’s population) according to the impact of terrorism. The indicators include the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages.
According to the report, terrorist incidents in the country more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. Fatalities also increased by 45%, reaching 1,081. This is the first year that attacks have exceeded 1,000 since the inception of the Index.
The Global Terrorism Index highlights the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a key factor behind the increase in violence. The group was responsible for 52% of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan last year. It carried out 482 attacks, killing 558 people, which was a 91% increase from the previous year. The most affected regions were Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where over 96% of attacks took place.
The report says Pakistan has experienced a significant rise in terrorism since the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. Terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan have intensified their attacks, particularly along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In response, Pakistan has launched Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, a counter-terrorism initiative to curb the growing threat.
Apart from the TTP, Baloch separatist groups have also increased their activities due to the instability in the country. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was responsible for the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan in 2024 which involved a suicide bomber claiming the lives of 25 people at Quetta railway station. According to the report attacks by Baloch militant groups rose from 116 in 2023 to 504 in 2024, with related deaths increasing more than four times to 388.
With Pakistan’s ranking in the Global Terrorism Index worsening, security concerns continue to rise. The government is under pressure to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts to prevent further instability.
Read more: Bomb blast in Khuzdar, Balochistan
