Global Terrorism Index 2025

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​Ten Countries Most Impacted by Terrorism: (9) Afghanistan
Terrorism remained a persistent threat in Afghanistan in 2024, with incidents rising by nearly 20 per cent despite a slight decrease in deaths. The country recorded 113 deaths, a 12 per cent decline, while incidents increased from 73 in 2023 to 87 in 2024. This year marked Afghanistan’s lowest position on the GTI since its inception, remaining outside the top five for the second consecutive year. 
 
While terrorist activity in Afghanistan has fallen significantly in recent years, this does not indicate that peace has been restored. The GTI does not account for acts of state repression or violence committed by state actors. As such, actions carried out by the Taliban are no longer included within the scope of the report. Despite the downward trend in terrorism, widespread reports persist of repression and violence targeting civilians, the media, human rights officials, and former government officials. Afghanistan is considered the world’s most repressive country for women, who face severe institutionalised gender-based discrimination, including bans on education and strict requirements to cover their faces and bodies.
 
Terrorism in Afghanistan remains concentrated in the northern provinces, with Kabul and Takhar recording the highest number of attacks in 2024. Kabul saw 27 deaths from 41 attacks, making it the province with the most terrorism deaths. Despite remaining the most terrorism-affected province for the 11th consecutive year, Kabul experienced a 48 per cent decrease in deaths even as the number of attacks rose by 78 per cent. 
 
Most attacks in Afghanistan were carried out by anti-Taliban groups, including the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) and the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). However, Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK) remained the deadliest group in the country, responsible for 57 per cent of deaths and a fifth of attacks in 2024. ISK was responsible for Afghanistan’s deadliest attack of 2024, when a suicide bomber killed 21 people at a bank branch in Kandahar province.
 
Entering their fourth year in power, the Taliban continue to maintain internal stability while facing resistance from armed opposition groups such as the AFF and NRF, which challenge their governance. Relations with Pakistan have also worsened, highlighted by cross-border tensions and Pakistani airstrikes on suspected TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. These developments reflect the complexities of Afghanistan’s political landscape as it grapples with security concerns and internal opposition.
 
Global Terrorism Index 2025. Institute for Economics & Peace. Sydney, Australia.