Recently, there is a growing trend in violence, both at national as well as international level, in the form of terrorism. It is present in our everyday lives and in every part of the world and affects our lives in one way or another. Whether terrorism affected us directly with the loss of a loved one or an incident we were a part of, or indirectly by heightened security at the airports causing delays, sudden drop in a stock values we own, or emotionally by the countless reports and images displayed by the media, it has affected us all and shows no signs of going away anytime soon. Globalization has facilitated terrorists to operate at international level in pursuit of global aims. Rather than using terrorism to change a single society or government, terrorism has gone international in pursuit of global aims.

Collectively, terrorist organizations pose the single greatest threat to international peace and prosperity. Organizations such as Al Qaeda have established a worldwide network of operatives, with links to other terrorist organizations to provide mutual support and assistance. This network has developed links with organized crime, drug trafficking, state sponsors, and companies and corporations sympathetic to its causes. Cumulatively, a virtual nation has been created that possesses the means to conduct war—and in fact has declared war on the world—posing a significant military and foreign policy challenge to which the world has had no pre-planned response. The problem of terrorism cannot be interpreted as a problem of single country or region. This is a global phenomenon with global consequences and in this regard requires a holistic approach. Since terrorism has become a global threat, the question relating to human rights has become pervasive at all levels of society.