Exported Instability: How Afghan Sanctuary Put Pakistan at the Top of the Global Terrorism Index
Pakistan recorded 1,045 terror incidents and 1,139 fatalities in 2025, placing it at the top of the Global Terrorism Index. This backgrounder by Irtija Ahmad examines how the Afghan Taliban’s return, cross-border safe havens, and abandoned US weaponry fueled this resurgence, refuting the narrative of self-inflicted instability.