Why in news?
The Institute for Economics and Peace released the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026. The report measures the impact of terrorism worldwide and helps governments and researchers understand shifting trends.
Background
The GTI ranks countries by scores from 0 to 10 based on terrorist incidents, casualties, hostages and property damage. A higher score indicates a greater impact. The index draws data from the Global Terrorism Database maintained by the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.
Key findings
- Decline in violence: Deaths from terrorism fell by about 28 % to 5,582, and incidents dropped by 22 % to 2,944 — the lowest levels since 2007. However, terrorist activity remains concentrated in several conflict zones.
- Regional shifts: Six of the ten countries most affected are in sub‑Saharan Africa. The Sahel region continues to see rising extremist violence, while South Asia recorded a mixed picture.
- Pakistan tops the index: Pakistan ranked first for the first time, with over 1,100 deaths and more than 1,000 incidents in 2025, reflecting a sharp resurgence of terrorism. It replaced Burkina Faso at the top.
- India’s position: India ranked 13th, with more than 140 terrorist incidents resulting in over 100 deaths and numerous injuries. Most attacks occurred within 100 km of international borders.
- Deadliest organisations: The Islamic State group remained the deadliest terrorist organisation, followed by Jamaat Nusrat al‑Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al‑Shabaab. These groups were responsible for about 70 % of global terrorism‑related deaths.
- Emerging patterns: The report notes an increase in lone‑wolf attacks and online radicalisation. In Western countries, antisemitic and Islamophobic assaults contributed to fatalities despite the overall decline in global deaths.
Conclusion
While the overall burden of terrorism has decreased, the GTI 2026 warns that fragile states and border regions remain vulnerable. International cooperation, counter‑radicalisation efforts and socio‑economic development are critical to sustaining progress.
Source: Live Mint
