Pakistan Becomes 2nd Most Terrorism-Affected Country in 2025 GTI Report

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), has ranked Pakistan as the second worst-affected country by terrorism. The report reveals a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths, with 1,081 fatalities recorded.

This marks the fifth consecutive year of increasing terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan. The number of terrorist attacks more than doubled, rising from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, making it the first time Pakistan has crossed 1,000 attacks in the index’s history. The report highlights that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing terrorist organization, responsible for 52% of all terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan.

In 2024 alone, TTP carried out 482 attacks, killing 558 people, marking a 91% increase compared to 2023. The Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan has strengthened TTP’s operations, providing them with safe havens and enhanced organizational capacity.

The two most affected regions in Pakistan are Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accounting for 96% of all terrorism-related incidents. The Baloch insurgency has also intensified, with Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) increasing attacks against Chinese interests and state forces.

A major attack in Quetta railway station left 25 people dead, making it Pakistan’s deadliest terrorist attack in 2024.

Globally, terrorism-related deaths remained stable in 2024, but Pakistan saw a massive rise, alongside Burkina Faso and Syria. Burkina Faso alone accounted for 20% of global terrorism fatalities. Pakistan’s security forces have launched Operation Azm-e-Istahkam to counter terrorism and restore peace. However, experts warn that without strong regional cooperation, especially with Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism will continue to rise.