Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 6: Pakistan has climbed to the second position on the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025, reflecting a sharp increase in terror-related incidents and civilian casualties. The report, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), assesses the level of terrorism in 163 countries, representing nearly 99.7% of the global population.
According to the GTI, Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic rise in terrorism over the past five years, with 2024 marking the most significant year-on-year increase in the last decade. The number of terrorist attacks surged by 45% in 2024, bringing the total number of incidents to a staggering 1,099 – the first time attacks have exceeded 1,000 since the index’s inception. This rise in attacks was directly linked to a sharp increase in fatalities and injuries, contributing to Pakistan's higher ranking in the global terrorism scale.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group, emerged as the primary culprit behind the violence, registering a 90% increase in deaths attributed to its activities. In 2024 alone, the TTP carried out 482 attacks, resulting in 585 deaths, marking a significant 91% rise from the previous year, which had seen 293 fatalities.
The report highlights that TTP was responsible for over half (52%) of the terrorist-related deaths in Pakistan during 2024. It also underscores the worsening security situation in Pakistan, particularly after the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan. Terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan have intensified their cross-border operations, especially along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have been the hardest hit, accounting for over 96% of all terrorism-related deaths and incidents in Pakistan. The report indicates that these western border areas remain the epicenter of violent extremist activity in the country.
The escalating terrorism crisis continues to put pressure on Pakistan’s security forces, as the nation struggles to cope with the rising tide of violent extremism and cross-border terrorism.