The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) ranking of Pakistan in 2026 is both worrisome and, at the same time, reinforces the national stance against the menace that continues to endanger regional peace. The GTI ranking, in a way, acknowledges the alarming rise of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan originating from across the western border.
Safe havens of banned terrorist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Al-Qaeda (AQ), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and their numerous splinter groups exist inside Afghanistan, with the apparent support of the ruling Afghan Taliban regime. These terrorist groups are involved in major attacks against neighboring countries, and Pakistan has been the biggest sufferer of cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
The extraordinary nature of the Taliban’s commitment to anti-Pakistan terrorist organizations has compelled Islamabad to carry out unprecedented military strikes inside Afghanistan under the title “Righteous Fury” (Ghazab-lil-Haq). The national resolve against cross-border terrorism is evident in the unflinching unity among all segments of society in support of ongoing counterterrorism operations.
While the Taliban regime is evidently providing shelter on Afghan soil, this resource-constrained and unelected de facto setup alone appears incapable of bearing the substantial financial burden required to sustain international terrorist outfits.
The State of Pakistan has already spelled out its policy by declaring terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Khwarij (FAK) and Fitna-al-Hindustan (FAH). The GTI 2026 report specifically points to Afghanistan as a breeding ground for terrorist groups involved in attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), civilians, and various development projects inside Pakistan. This is a strong endorsement of what Pakistan has long been conveying to the international community regarding the evolving threat of terrorism from Afghan soil.
According to the GTI 2026 report, similar disclosures were also made in authentic reports released by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Russian Foreign Office. Recent criticism by a Chinese representative at a United Nations forum regarding the deeper links between the Taliban and hard-core terrorist groups carries significant weight, given Beijing’s credibility as a major regional player.
On one hand, the GTI ranking highlights Pakistan as one of the biggest victims of terrorism; on the other hand, it underscores the extraordinary role of the state in the ongoing war against terror groups affiliated with the banned TTP. FAK elements are a driving force behind this terror machinery, which continues to endanger the future of the entire region.
The decisive support, protective shelter, logistical aid, and self-styled ideological alignment of the Afghan Taliban regime with terrorist groups are too evident to ignore. The rising trend of terrorism inside Pakistan following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021 further reinforces this reality.
The GTI 2026 report has rightly raised alarm by pointing out a sixfold increase in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan after 2021, when the Taliban regime took over Kabul with minimal resistance. The menace of terrorism has resurfaced in Afghanistan and continues to spill over into Pakistan. This situation warrants serious deliberation to identify the support systems of banned terrorist groups.
While the Taliban regime is evidently providing shelter on Afghan soil, this resource-constrained and unelected de facto setup alone appears incapable of bearing the substantial financial burden required to sustain international terrorist outfits. Pakistan has consistently highlighted the involvement of Indian state actors in patronizing terror proxies on Afghan soil.
It is time for the international community to take stock of the situation. Despite being the biggest victim of cross-border terrorism, Pakistan continues to hold the line against international terrorist organizations. As emphasized in the GTI 2026 report, Pakistan stands as a shield between the world and terrorist groups operating with relative impunity from Afghanistan.
The writer is a freelance contributor based in Islamabad.