Afghanistan is no longer the world's most terrorism-infected nation with the notorious crown now being worn by Burkina Faso, a recent study published by a global think has found.
"Terrorism deaths fell by 519 in Afghanistan in 2023, an 81 percent improvement. This is the first year since 2019 that Afghanistan has not been the country most impacted by terrorism," the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) report highlighted.
Meanwhile, the drop in terrorism-related deaths in Afghanistan is significant, considering the Taliban has often tried to take credit for the improving security scenario in the war-torn country.
"The fall in terrorism deaths has been consistent" after the Taliban came to power in August 2021, the report reads.
At the same time, the movement's main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has repeatedly stated that the Islamic Emirate will not allow terrorist groups to mushroom in Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Burkina Faso recorded the most number of terror-related deaths in 2023.
Overall, a total of 1,907 people died in terrorist incidents in the African country last year, recording a 68% increase from the previous year.
*under UN sanctions for terror activities