Pakistan ranks second in Global Terrorism Index 2025

ISLAMABAD: During a visit to Quetta, President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the importance of winning the "war on terrorism." His visit comes as Balochistan faces increased violence. Recent incidents include a deadly hijacking of a train and a suicide bombing that killed five people. President Zardari arrived in Quetta on Wednesday to assess the security situation. He attended a briefing on law and order. Afterward, he stated, “Terrorists will be defeated at all costs,” emphasizing that terrorists aim to divide the nation. He declared that the state must survive, and the fight against terrorism must succeed. In related news, Pakistan has been ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index for 2025. The number of deaths from terrorist attacks rose by 45 percent last year, totaling 1,081 fatalities. This increase marks the largest year-on-year rise in a decade for Pakistan. Terrorist attacks also doubled, jumping from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. The Global Terrorism Index report indicates a troubling trend. The number of countries experiencing terrorist attacks has gone up from 58 to 66. This change breaks nearly ten years of improvement, as more countries are seeing a rise in violence. The rise in terrorism in Pakistan has been linked to the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan. Groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have gained more freedom to operate and plan attacks from safe havens across the border. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the most affected regions, accounting for over 96 percent of attacks and casualties last year. The Pakistan government has launched counterterrorism efforts like Operation Azm-i-Istehkam to tackle these challenges. The Balochistan Liberation Army was responsible for a deadly attack at Quetta railway station, resulting in significant civilian and military casualties.