In its annual report on global terrorism released Thursday, the State Department pointed to increased resource-sharing between al-Qaida and Pakistan and Afghanistan-based militants, including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Haqqani Network.

The report covers 2010, before the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

It reports more than 11,500 terrorist attacks in 72 countries during 2010, resulting in more than 13,200 deaths.

The number of attacks rose by almost 5 per cent from 2009, but deaths declined for a third consecutive year, dropping by 12 per cent from 2009.