Islamabad [Pakistan]: Pakistan has emerged as the second-most terrorism-affected country in the world, climbing from its previous position at fourth, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report, as reported by Geo News.
The report reveals a dramatic 45 per cent surge in terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan, with deaths rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024. This significant increase represents one of the sharpest spikes in terrorism-related deaths globally.
In addition to the rising fatalities, the number of terrorist attacks in the country more than doubled, soaring from 517 incidents in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. This marks the first time since the inception of the GTI that the number of attacks in Pakistan has surpassed the 1,000 mark, highlighting the escalating security crisis.
Geo News also reported on a recent terrorist attempt at the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces successfully repelled an intrusion by killing all 16 militants involved. The attack, however, resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and 13 civilians, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The GTI report attributes the surge in terrorism to the influence of Afghanistan’s territory, particularly following the rise of the Afghan Taliban’s power in Kabul. The report underscores the role of militant groups, especially the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in intensifying operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The TTP remains the deadliest group in Pakistan, responsible for 52 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024. The group carried out 482 attacks, causing 558 deaths — a staggering 90 per cent increase compared to the previous year, as reported by Geo News.
The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been identified as the most heavily affected by the ongoing terrorist violence, bearing the brunt of the increased attacks.
The Global Terrorism Index 2025, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), provides an in-depth analysis of terrorism trends and patterns over the past 17 years. The report ranks 163 countries, covering 99.7 per cent of the global population, based on indicators such as the frequency of attacks, fatalities, injuries, and the number of hostages.