Foreign Policy > Pakistan

Pakistan Tops The Global Terrorism Index

The problem when violence becomes routine.

Fatima El Hashimi | April 10, 2026

Violence has begun to feel routine in Pakistan, a grim normalization that reflects a deeper and more dangerous reality: the country’s security situation has deteriorated sharply, marking the sixth consecutive year of rising terrorism. The Global Terrorism Index 2026, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, crystallizes this trend with stark clarity.

While the world as a whole recorded a substantial fall in terrorism deaths by 28 percent and attacks by nearly 22 percent, Pakistan moved in the opposite direction. For the first time, it ranked number one on the index, recording 1,139 terrorism‑related deaths in 2025, a six percent increase from the previous year.

This spike marks the continuation of a long, troubling trajectory. Terrorism‑related deaths in Pakistan have risen every year for six years, and the latest increase is the largest year‑on‑year jump in a decade. The number of attacks more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, then showed a slight decline in 2025, though it remained at historically elevated levels. The report’s indicators, which include incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostages, paint a picture of a country where militant violence is not only persistent but evolving in ways that challenge the state’s capacity to respond.

The report identifies several drivers behind this surge. Pakistan’s strained relationship with Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power, has created fertile ground for cross‑border militancy. The banned Tehreek‑i‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as the deadliest group operating........

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