Pakistan Poses Thrice the Terror Risk to Humanity as Syria: Report

Pakistan hosts or aids majority of the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world, the report states.

Pakistan is responsible for three time the terror threat that Syria poses. (Representative image.)

(Photo: iStockphoto/Altered by The Quint)

Pakistan is responsible for three times the terror threat to humanity that Syria poses, a study has found. According to a report titled “Humanity at Risk - Global Terror Threat Indicant” by Oxford University and Strategic Foresight Group, while the Afghan Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba pose the biggest security threat for international security in the future, Pakistan is currently at the top of the list of countries which have the most number of safe havens and terrorist bases, reported ANI.

“If we look at the most dangerous terrorist groups, based on hard facts and statistics, we find that Pakistan hosts or aids majority of them. Also, there are a significant number of groups based in Afghanistan, which operate with the support of Pakistan.” 

Humanity at Risk - Global Terror Threat Indicant

The 80-page report, which is intended to discuss security challenges in the next decade, presents an analytical framework and tool for policy makers to use.

“The rise of competitive extremism of all shades, misuse of weapons of mass destruction and economic disruptions can undermine human progress or even survival in the period from now until 2030. They are all interlinked with terrorism”, the report states, as quoted by ANI.

Strategic Foresight Group has analysed almost 200 groups actively involved in acts of terror in the first five years of the 21st century. According to the report, only one fourth of the 200 terror outfits were motivated by their own interpretation of jihadi ideology.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Daesh are among these. However, the Al-Qaida remains the most resilient network. The report states that the most significant factor influencing the future of Jihadi groups would be support from states, intelligence agencies and criminal networks.

“The birth of Al-Qaida was in Pakistan and then Pakistan influenced Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden had a safe haven in a huge compound near the Pakistani military establishment in Abbottabad. The compound was much larger than the surrounding houses of retired Pakistani military officers. The occupants of the compound often bought expensive goods from a neighbourhood shop that most people in the vicinity could not afford. The presence of an important family in the compound was nothing but conspicuous.”

Humanity at Risk - Global Terror Threat Indicant

The report provides extensive detail about the global terror outfits operating from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen and many other countries, according to ANI.

In Pakistan, the terror groups enjoy patronage of the law enforcement agencies, and are able to easily plan major attacks and raise funds, according to the report.

“The Jihadi thought processes have proved to be most resilient for almost 150 years, beginning in what is today Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan. Many extremist movements rose and collapsed. But the Jihadi movement has survived in Pakistan and Afghanistan, now firmly spreading to the Middle East and North and West Africa.”

Humanity at Risk - Global Terror Threat Indicant

(With inputs from ANI.)