Pakistan Most Impacted By Terrorism In 2026; Ex-Envoy Haqqani Calls It Result Of Keeping 'Snakes In Backyard'

News world Pakistan Most Impacted By Terrorism In 2026; Ex-Envoy Haqqani Calls It Result Of Keeping 'Snakes In Backyard'

Pakistan Most Impacted By Terrorism In 2026; Ex-Envoy Haqqani Calls It Result Of Keeping 'Snakes In Backyard'

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Last Updated: September 27, 2026, 10:40 IST

Pakistan has ranked as the country most impacted by terrorism in the Global Terrorism Index 2026. Former envoy Husain Haqqani reacted sharply on X.

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Pakistan Tops Global Terrorism Index (Photo: Reuters)

Former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani has reacted sharply to Pakistan emerging as the country most impacted by terrorism in the Global Terrorism Index 2026, saying the country is now facing the consequences of its past policies towards extremist groups.

Sharing a graphic highlighting Pakistan’s position in the index, Haqqani wrote on X, “This is what happens when you keep snakes in the backyard of your house: one day, the household members get bitten too. Pakistan began arming extremist jihadists fifty years ago. Now Pakistan is at the very top among countries targeted by terrorist attacks. Is there anyone willing to learn a lesson?"

گھر کے پچھلے صحن میں سانپ پالنے کا نتیجہ یہی ہوتا ہے کہ ایک دن گھر والوں کو بھی ڈستے ہیں۔ پاکستان نے پچاس برس پہلے انتہا پسند جہادیوں کو مسلح کرنا شروع کیا تھا۔ اب پاکستان دہشت گرد حملوں کا نشانہ بننے والے ممالک میں سب سے اوپر ہے۔ ہے کوئی سبق سیکھنے والا؟ pic.twitter.com/zJ7cSD1NSw— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) September 25, 2026

The comments came after the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) placed Pakistan at number one in its 2026 index.

The report says Pakistan recorded 1,139 deaths and 1,045 terrorist incidents in 2025, with terrorism-related deaths reaching their highest level in the country since 2013.

Pakistan Ranks No. 1 In Global Terrorism Index

According to the report, Pakistan scored 8.574 on the index, surpassing Burkina Faso.

The country has remained among the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism in every edition of the index, but 2025 marked the first time it moved to the top position.

The IEP report says terrorism deaths in Pakistan increased by nearly six per cent in 2025, marking the sixth consecutive year of an increase in terrorism-related deaths.

At the same time, the number of incidents fell slightly from 1,098 in 2024 to 1,045 in 2025.

The report also records a sharp rise in hostage-taking, from 101 in 2024 to 655 in 2025.

The picture makes Pakistan’s deterioration particularly notable.

Worldwide, terrorism deaths fell 28 per cent in 2025 to 5,582, while the number of attacks declined by nearly 22 per cent to 2,944.

The IEP said 81 countries recorded improvements, while only 19 deteriorated.

Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Account For 74% Of Attacks

The report identifies Pakistan’s western border regions as the main concentration of terrorist activity.

Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for more than 74 per cent of terrorist attacks and 67 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan in 2025, according to the IEP.

The report links the increase in militant activity partly to the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and the subsequent intensification of attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The report also says Pakistan’s strained relations with its neighbours, combined with rising violence by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have created significant security challenges.

TTP Accounts For 56% Of Terrorism Deaths

The TTP emerges as one of the most significant factors behind Pakistan’s terrorism figures.

The IEP says the TTP was Pakistan’s deadliest terrorist organisation for the fifth consecutive year. It was attributed to 56 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan in 2025, while carrying out 595 attacks that resulted in 637 deaths – a 13 per cent increase in deaths from the previous year.

The report separately identifies the TTP as the world’s third-deadliest terrorist organisation in 2025 and says it was the only one among the four deadliest terrorist groups globally to record an increase in deaths.

The four groups were Islamic State, Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), TTP and al-Shabaab.

The IEP also says TTP attacks have increased for four consecutive years, with all 595 attacks in 2025 occurring in Pakistan, primarily in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border.

BLA Attack On Passenger Train Highlighted

The report also points to the BLA’s escalating activity. It says the group was responsible for Pakistan’s largest terrorist attack of 2025, when militants seized control of a passenger train after bombing tracks near Quetta railway station and took 442 people hostage.

The report says 21 hostages, four military personnel and 33 terrorists were killed in the incident.

It also notes that BLA activity has increasingly targeted Chinese nationals and infrastructure, including projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The IEP further says Pakistan’s counterterrorism initiatives, including Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, have had “limited success so far".

It also records escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan government of sheltering and aiding the TTP – an allegation the Taliban government denies.

Pakistan Among Five Countries Accounting For 70% Of Terror Deaths

Pakistan’s position also stands out in the global distribution of terrorism fatalities.

The IEP says just under 70 per cent of all terrorism deaths in 2025 occurred in five countries – Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The report records that Pakistan alone accounted for about 20 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2025, according to its country distribution chart.

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Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 Why did Pakistan rank first in the Global Terrorism Index 2026? Pakistan ranked number one in the 2026 index with a score of 8.574, recording 1,139 deaths and 1,045 terrorist incidents in 2025. This marked the first time Pakistan reached the top position since the index began, driven by a six percent rise in terrorism-related deaths and escalating border violence. Which regions in Pakistan experienced the highest concentration of terrorist attacks in 2025? The western border regions of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the main centers of terrorist activity, accounting for over 74 percent of terrorist attacks and 67 percent of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan during 2025. Which militant group was identified as the primary driver of terrorism fatalities in Pakistan? The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was Pakistan's deadliest terrorist organization for the fifth consecutive year, accounting for 56 percent of terrorism-related deaths in the country in 2025 through 595 attacks that caused 637 deaths. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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First Published: September 27, 2026, 10:35 IST

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