Pakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index 2026 Amid Rising Violence

The Global Terrorism Index 2026 has identified Pakistan as the most impacted nation by terrorism, with alarming statistics revealing over 1,100 deaths and significant violence in 2025. This report highlights the country's ongoing security challenges, including strained relations with neighbors and the influence of terrorist groups. The index also ranks other countries, showcasing a troubling global landscape of terrorism. Discover the full details of this critical report and its implications for international security.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 20, 2026, 22:21 IST

Pakistan's Alarming Terrorism Statistics

According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, Pakistan has been identified as the nation most severely affected by terrorism worldwide. The report highlights a troubling increase in violence, with 1,139 fatalities and 1,045 incidents recorded in 2025. With a score of 8.57, Pakistan has overtaken Burkina Faso to claim this unfortunate distinction. This marks the highest level of terrorism in Pakistan since 2013 and its first time at the top since 2011, as reported by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a non-profit think tank based in Sydney.

The report attributes the surge in violence to Pakistan's strained relations with neighboring countries, alongside escalating threats from groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Furthermore, Pakistan has faced ongoing international criticism for allegedly providing refuge and support to various terrorist organizations operating in the region. Recently, the country has been involved in a cross-border conflict with Afghanistan, which escalated following a devastating airstrike on a Kabul hospital that resulted in at least 400 casualties, marking one of the most tragic events in Afghanistan since the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

In 2025, Pakistan found itself under intense scrutiny after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April drew global condemnation. During a UN session, India labeled Pakistan a 'rogue state' for its support of terrorism and revealed its long history of backing and financing terrorist groups.

Global Terrorism Index Rankings

Which countries are in the top 10?

The 2026 Global Terrorism Index reveals that African nations dominate the top 10 rankings, with Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo leading the list. Other countries included are Syria (ranked 6th), Cambodia (9th), and Israel (10th). Afghanistan holds the 11th position, while India is ranked 13th, having recorded over 142 terror-related incidents, more than 100 deaths, and 118 injuries in 2025, according to the index.

Iran is positioned 18th in the Global Terrorism Index 2026, while the United States is ranked 28th. Both nations are currently experiencing heightened tensions following joint US-Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, escalating the conflict into a broader war in the Middle East.

The Global Terrorism Index serves as a detailed analysis of terrorism's impact across 163 countries, encompassing 99.7% of the global population.