The terrorist threat to South Asia has never been as acute as it is today. The region, home to more than one-third of humanity, has more terrorist groups and terrorists, than any other part of the world. More lives have been lost in this region to terrorist attacks than anywhere else in the world. At least five countries in the region Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives face serious threats from a melange of terrorist groups active in the region and elsewhere. Barring India, the other four face a threat to the very nature of their state if terrorism is not contained.

Two unfolding events in the immediate neighbourhood could greatly enhance the dimension of the threat. One, the US and other western countries have been drawing down their troops from active deployment in Afghanistan. NATO forces departed in December 2014. The US has a much smaller presence in the country than before and is likely to move its troops out over the next two years. Two, West Asia is witnessing a major confrontation between different terrorist forces and countries, taking a heavy toll on lives and property. The conflict has already triggered an unprecedented migration crisis in Europe. The rapid rise of a new terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and the reemergence of al-Qaeda in West Asia as well as South Asia, further magnifies the terrorist threats in the region.

• Terrorism
• south Asia
• counterterrorism

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