Explainers

Terrorism in Pakistan over the past two and a half decades reflects a turbulent cycle of escalation, decline, and resurgence shaped by regional geopolitics. From the influx of militants after 9/11 to the formation of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the peak of violence in 2009, the post-2014 counter-terrorism offensives, and the renewed insurgency following the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan’s security has remained deeply intertwined with Afghanistan’s instability. The human and economic costs have been immense, leaving lasting impacts on both society and state policy.