Published: 12:16 AM, 28 September 2026
Global Terrorism Index: Extremism Escalates in Pakistan Amid Global Downturn in Violence, Driven by Militant Resurgence
Khalid Ibrahim
At a time when global levels of political violence are in steady decline, the skies over South Asia have once again darkened under the shadow of a familiar menace. The latest iteration of the Global Terrorism Index, compiled by the Sydney-based Institute for Economics and Peace, offers far more than a mere ledger of casualties: it stands as a damning indictment of decades of flawed strategic doctrine, geopolitical opportunism, and institutional decay in Islamabad. Whilst fatal terrorist attacks worldwide fell by more than 28 per cent over the preceding year, Pakistan recorded its highest death toll since 2013, with 1,139 lives lost across 1,045 violent incidents. This relentless upward trajectory—now in its sixth consecutive year—has propelled the nation to the apex of the global terrorism standings for the first time in the index’s history. Though Pakistan has featured consistently amongst the most severely affected states since tracking began in 2012, its ascent to the top spot marks a grim new low.
Beyond the immediate toll in human life, the resurgence of Islamist extremism and state-sanctioned militant infrastructure has systematically eroded the country’s institutional foundations and social cohesion. Decades of state-cultivated radicalization have undermined public faith in civil authority, rendered local governance virtually non-existent across the tribal frontier, and crippled an already precarious national economy. By entrenching an environment of perpetual instability, militant factions have effectively scared off foreign direct investment, stymied critical infrastructure development, and isolated the country from international commerce, leaving its economy in state-managed paralysis.
The warning issued on social media by a former Pakistani diplomat to Washington retains a stark, prophetic resonance: "This is what happens when you keep snakes in your backyard: one day, they turn and bite the household." The radical elements and proxy forces fostered under state patronage since the 1970s to project power regionally have now turned their weaponry against their former patrons. When a state attempts to instrumentally deploy extremism by distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' militants, such catastrophic blowback becomes an inevitability. The resurgence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) alongside escalating violence by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in the resource-rich south-west underscores a profound breakdown in state control. The doctrine of 'strategic depth' that Islamabad pursued following the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in 2021 has transformed into a strategic nightmare. With Kabul now routinely accused of harbouring TTP operatives and the two neighbours engaging in direct cross-border skirmishes, it is increasingly clear that Islamabad’s regional policy was less a coherent strategy than a dangerous delusion.
Pakistan is once again facing a serious security challenge as militant and terrorist organizations have intensified violent activities in several parts of the country. Recent attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, have raised fresh concerns about the ability of the state to protect civilians and security personnel. The resurgence of violence also threatens to deepen tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while placing additional pressure on an already troubled economy and society.
The latest wave of violence has been particularly visible in Pakistan's north-western regions. On September 18, 2026, a suicide car bomb attack struck a police facility in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during Friday prayers. Reuters reported that at least 16 people were killed and 57 injured. Five police officers were among the dead, while all seven attackers were reported killed. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), one of the principal militant organizations operating against the Pakistani state, denied responsibility for that particular attack.
The incident illustrates the unpredictable nature of the current security situation. Even when responsibility for an individual attack remains disputed, the frequency and scale of militant violence demonstrate that armed groups continue to possess the capacity to strike heavily protected targets. Police stations, military installations, government facilities and civilians have all been vulnerable to attacks in Pakistan's conflict-affected areas.
The TTP remains one of the most prominent militant organizations involved in the insurgency. The group has historically opposed the Pakistani state and has carried out numerous attacks against security forces and civilians. According to recent reporting, the organization has expanded its insurgency in north-western Pakistan and maintains ideological and operational links with al-Qaeda. A recent United Nations assessment cited by Reuters said that the TTP had received ideological guidance, training and support from al-Qaeda.
Pakistan's security problems, however, are not limited to one organization. The country faces several forms of militancy, including Islamist extremism, sectarian violence and armed separatism. Balochistan has experienced a separate insurgency involving Baloch militant organizations. The Balochistan Liberation Army, for example, has claimed responsibility for attacks on government personnel and installations. The motivations, organizational structures and political objectives of such groups differ considerably, making Pakistan's security challenge particularly complex.
Sectarian militancy is another long-standing concern. Groups influenced by extremist ideologies have targeted religious minorities and members of rival sects in the past. Such violence has not only caused deaths but has also damaged social cohesion and encouraged fear and mistrust among communities. The persistence of extremist networks demonstrates that military action alone cannot completely eliminate the conditions that allow violent organizations to recruit and survive.
The resurgence of militancy has also affected Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused militant groups of using sanctuaries across the Afghan border to plan and launch attacks. Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have rejected these accusations and have argued that militancy inside Pakistan is an internal Pakistani problem. The disagreement has contributed to increasingly strained relations between the two neighbours.
The situation deteriorated further in September when Pakistan announced airstrikes against militant targets in Afghanistan. On September 21, Pakistani authorities said that their strikes had killed 28 militants in Afghanistan. Afghan authorities, however, said that civilians had also been killed, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan confirmed the deaths of three civilians. These competing accounts underline the dangers of cross-border military action and the possibility of further escalation.
For ordinary Pakistanis, the consequences of terrorism extend far beyond the immediate loss of life. Repeated attacks create insecurity in daily life, discourage investment and tourism, disrupt education and business activities, and impose enormous costs on the government. Families of soldiers, police officers and civilians killed in attacks suffer permanent losses, while survivors often face physical and economic hardships.
Terrorism also threatens the country's economic recovery. Pakistan needs political stability and a secure environment to attract domestic and foreign investment. Businesses are less willing to invest in areas where attacks are frequent or where transportation and communication networks are vulnerable. Prolonged insecurity can therefore reinforce unemployment, poverty and social frustration, creating circumstances that extremist groups may exploit for recruitment.
The government and security forces have responded through military operations, intelligence-based actions, arrests and efforts to strengthen border security. Such measures are important for preventing immediate attacks, but the longer-term response requires a broader strategy. the difficult task of preventing extremist propaganda from reaching vulnerable young people. Militant organizations increasingly use digital platforms to spread ideological messages, recruit supporters and glorify violence. Countering such propaganda requires grievances and terrorism must be maintained. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other conflict-affected regions have experienced political, economic and social grievances that cannot simply be a warning that terrorism has not disappeared from Pakistan. The return of large-scale militant violence demonstrates the need for sustained vigilance and a coordinated national response. Pakistan's security forces have an important role in protecting the population at a heavy price in lives and livelihoods. The renewed violence should not be allowed to become another cycle of retaliation and instability. A combination of effective security measures, regional diplomacy, economic development, accountable institutions and rejection of extremist ideology offers a broader path towards stability. The challenge is Effective policing, functioning courts, protection of witnesses, educational opportunities and economic development are necessary components of a sustainable counterterrorism policy.
The authorities also face the difficult task of preventing extremist propaganda from reaching vulnerable young people. Militant organizations increasingly use digital platforms to spread ideological messages, recruit supporters and glorify violence. Countering such propaganda requires not only law enforcement but also credible educational and community-based initiatives that promote peaceful political participation and reject sectarian hatred.
At the same time, the distinction between legitimate political grievances and terrorism must be maintained. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other conflict-affected regions have experienced political, economic and social grievances that cannot simply be addressed through force. Violence against civilians and security personnel cannot be justified, but durable peace also requires legitimate grievances to be addressed through political and constitutional means.
Pakistan's present security crisis is therefore more than a battle between the state and armed groups. It is a test of institutions, social cohesion and regional diplomacy. The country must confront those who use violence while simultaneously addressing the conditions that allow extremist organizations to recruit, finance themselves and maintain influence.
The recent attacks serve as a warning that terrorism has not disappeared from Pakistan. The return of large-scale militant violence demonstrates the need for sustained vigilance and a coordinated national response. Pakistan's security forces have an important role in protecting the population, but lasting peace will require cooperation among political leaders, communities, religious scholars, civil society and neighbouring states.
The people of Pakistan have endured decades of terrorism and have paid a heavy price in lives and livelihoods. The renewed violence should not be allowed to become another cycle of retaliation and instability. A combination of effective security measures, regional diplomacy, economic development, accountable institutions and rejection of extremist ideology offers a broader path towards stability. The challenge is formidable, but the cost of allowing terrorist organizations to regain strength would be far greater.
For any nation finding itself at the summit of the Global Terrorism Index, the imperative would be an immediate, sweeping overhaul of its security architecture and a concerted effort to dismantle the drivers of radicalization. Yet Pakistan’s ruling establishment appears inexplicably distracted. As the political elite and military leadership remain absorbed in acute economic distress, political factionalism, and parochial debates over the redrawing of administrative boundaries, frontier provinces such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bear the brunt of cross-border insurgencies. Standing amidst the ongoing losses suffered by security forces and civilians alike, the launch of yet another military initiative following the underperformance of measures such as 'Operation Azm-e-Istehkam' —begs an obvious question: can security operations ever succeed while the underlying strategic contradictions remain unaddressed?
While regional neighbours such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh maintain domestic stability, attract international capital, and advance their economic development, Pakistan remains trapped within a security crisis of its own making. An enduring fixation on functioning as a militarized national security state has devastated its economic, social, and political infrastructure. Ultimately, a failure to confront historic errors ensures their repetition. Unless Islamabad accepts that countering extremism demands a fundamental doctrine shift rather than piecemeal military operations or tactical manoeuvres, this latest ranking will not represent a temporary setback, but the precursor to a far more profound institutional collapse. The time to confront the forces long harboured within its borders has arrived; failure to do so risks the total unraveling of the state itself.
Khalid Ibrahim is a freelancer
and a columnist.
