The recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and elsewhere have demonstrated that the global fight against terrorism is far from over, and it still faces many challenges.

After the death of Osama bin Laden, the threat posed by al-Qaida as a global terrorist organization has declined. However, the threat posed by its affiliates still persists. The al-Qaida threat continues to diversify, with numerous loosely linked affiliates and associated radical individuals and cells innovating with regard to their targets, tactics and technology.

Terrorism is still around. For example, the risk of attacks by al-Qaida affiliates across the Sahel persists. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula continues to be a strong factor affecting the security situation in Yemen. Al-Shabaab remains a serious threat to the security of the region. In Syria, an affiliate of al-Qaida in Iraq has gained influence and recruits from it are fighting in the civil war.