Addressing the Nexus Between Human Trafficking and Terrorism

Human trafficking and terrorist financing form a cyclical, self-reinforcing nexus in Pakistan, where criminal syndicates and militant networks exploit vulnerable populations not only for profit but also to sustain extremist operations.

According to the UNODC, criminal networks in Pakistan generated approximately USD 927 million from human trafficking and migrant smuggling in 2013, up from USD 797 million in 2007, highlighting the sustained and growing scale of these illicit economies.

Such extensive criminal earnings provide a deep financial reservoir that can be diverted to terrorist groups, especially in areas with poor governance and porous borders. Furthermore, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reports highest trafficking interceptions at Gwadar, Quetta, and Turbat which are key transit hubs enabling movement of both people and extremist operatives.