KABUL— Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most terrorism-affected countries, ranking ninth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI)—its lowest position since the index was first published in 2012, when it ranked third.
While the drop from sixth place in 2024 suggests a reduced impact of terrorism, the report attributes it partly to the exclusion of Taliban-related violence following their takeover in 2021.
At the same time, the report says that terrorist attacks surged by nearly 20%, underscoring persistent security threats, particularly from ISIS-K, which remains the deadliest militant group in the country.
The GTI ranked Burkina Faso as the most terrorism-affected country, followed by Pakistan, Mali, Syria, and Niger. Also included in the top 10 were Nigeria, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon.
The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) was responsible for 57% of terrorism-related deaths in Afghanistan, making it the most lethal terrorist group in the country. The deadliest attack in 2024 occurred in Kandahar Province, where an ISIS-K suicide bomber targeted a bank branch, killing 21 people.
The report noted that terrorist activity remained concentrated in northern Afghanistan, with Kabul and Takhar experiencing the highest number of attacks. Kabul, which has been the most terrorism-affected province for 11 consecutive years, recorded 41 attacks resulting in 27 deaths. Despite a 78% increase in the number of attacks, terrorism-related fatalities in Kabul declined by 48%.
The Taliban, now in their fourth year of rule, continue to face resistance from armed opposition groups, including the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) and the National Resistance Front (NRF). These groups have challenged the Taliban’s security control, particularly in northern provinces.
The report also highlighted worsening relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, exacerbated by Pakistani airstrikes targeting suspected Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts inside Afghan territory.
The GTI reiterated that Afghanistan remains the most repressive country for women, with strict restrictions on their rights, including bans on education and employment. The report emphasized that while terrorism-related deaths have declined, the Taliban’s suppression of civil liberties and political opposition is not accounted for in the index.
Despite the drop in terrorism ranking, the report concluded that Afghanistan continues to face severe security and governance challenges, making long-term stability uncertain.
