Pakistan has been ranked as the most terrorism-affected country in the world for the first time, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2026 released by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The country reported 1,139 terrorism-related deaths in 2025, a six percent rise compared to the previous year. The report also recorded 1,045 terrorist incidents during the same period.
The index evaluates 163 countries, covering nearly the entire global population, using indicators such as fatalities, incidents, injuries, and hostage-taking.
Security Situation Worsens in Pakistan
The report notes that Pakistan’s security situation has worsened due to tensions with neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan, and growing activity by banned groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.
Terror-related deaths in 2025 reached their highest level since 2013. Violence remains concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which together accounted for over 74 percent of attacks and 67 percent of fatalities.
TTP Identified as Leading Threat
The TTP is identified as the deadliest group operating in Pakistan and the third deadliest globally. It was responsible for 637 deaths in 2025, making up 56 percent of all terrorism-related deaths in the country.
Activity by the TTP rose significantly, with 595 incidents in 2025 compared to 481 in 2024, a 24 percent increase. All attacks by the group occurred within Pakistan, mostly near the Afghan border. The report also states that the TTP has been responsible for more than two-thirds of all attacks in Pakistan since 2009 and carries out five times more incidents than the second most active group, the BLA.
Hostage Incidents Surge
Pakistan also saw a sharp rise in hostage-taking incidents, increasing from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025. Much of this increase was due to the Jaffar Express attack, in which 442 people were taken hostage.
Afghanistan Link and Regional Impact
The report connects Pakistan’s worsening security situation to developments in Afghanistan. Changes in governance there have strengthened militant groups operating across the border, allowing them to expand their reach and coordinate attacks more effectively in Pakistan.