Identifying Causes of Terrorism in Pakistan Sajid Haider ∗ , Carmen de Pablos Heredero ∗∗ , Munir Ahmed ∗∗∗ , & Sumaira Dustgeer ∗∗∗∗ Abstract The primary objective of this research is to explore the domestic and international causes of terrorism specific to Pakistan. Given that the country is a victim of widespread terrorist activities, an inquiry into the causes of terrorism is required. In-depth interviews and content analysis have been used to explore the initial causes of terrorism. Based on the results of content analysis a quantitative analysis was conducted to collect rank- order data from experts. The results indicate that the most important causes of terrorism include lack of law enforcement, poverty, Pakistan’s participation in war on terror, foreign involvement, and unemployment. This study concludes that no cause has a unilateral connection with terrorism, and focusing on a single factor may not suggest effective policy measures. This research suggests a multifaceted but a more focused diagnostic into the complex causes of terrorism in Pakistan. Keywords: Causes of terrorism; Pakistan; Qualitative and quantitative techniques Introduction Terrorism is prevalent everywhere in today’s modern world. Only 31 out of 158 countries ranked in Global Terrorism Index (GTI) did not experience a terrorist incident during 2002-2011. 1 The data presented in the index indicate a rise in the global impact of terrorism. “The world has become less peaceful every year since 2008, highlighting the importance of better understanding conflict and violence risk.” 2 ∗ Dr. Sajid Haider, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan. Email: sajidhaider@ciitvehari.edu.pk ∗∗ Dr. Carmen de Pablos Heredero, Professor, Department of Business Economics, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain ∗∗∗ Dr. Munir Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan ∗∗∗∗ Sumaira Dustgeer, Student, Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan