Pakistan has been ranked number one on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, following a 6 per cent increase in terrorism-related fatalities last year. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), deaths from terrorism in Pakistan are now at its highest level since 2013, with the country recording 1,139 terrorism deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025, highlighting a deteriorating security landscape.
The comprehensive report, which assesses the impact of terrorism across 163 countries, noted that Pakistan’s strained relations with its neighbours, particularly Afghanistan, alongside escalating violence in the country, have created significant security risks. 2025 marked the sixth consecutive year of rising terrorism deaths in Pakistan. Furthermore, the country experienced a massive spike in hostage-taking, with the number of victims jumping from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025. This surge was largely driven by the Jaffar Express attack, where 442 individuals were taken hostage.
The internal security vacuum is most evident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which collectively accounted for over 74 per cent of attacks and 67 per cent of deaths in Pakistan last year. On the global stage, Pakistan now sits alongside Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as one of five nations where nearly 70 per cent of all global terrorism deaths occur. This latest ranking follows a second-place finish in 2025, confirming a steady and violent decline in the country’s stability.
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