October 7, 2025
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan witnessed a sharp escalation in militant violence during its third quarter of 2025, with fatalities in the first nine months of the year almost equal to the entire toll recorded in 2024. This spike was revealed in a new report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), an Islamabad-based think tank.
The report , released on Monday, noted that 901 people were killed and 599 injured in 329 incidents of violence between July and September this year. This marks a 46 per cent increase in fatalities compared to the second quarter of 2025.
Overall, 2,414 people lost their lives and 1,500 were injured in militant attacks, targeted killings, and security operations during the first nine months of 2025 — nearly equalling the 2,546 fatalities recorded throughout 2024.
KP, Balochistan remain flashpoints
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) once again emerged as the country’s most volatile region, accounting for nearly 71 per cent of all fatalities and over two-thirds of total incidents in the third quarter. Most attacks targeted security personnel and civilians in the merged tribal districts and southern parts of the province.
Balochistan ranked second, recording more than 25 per cent of all fatalities and 85 incidents of violence. Security forces have continued to confront Baloch insurgent groups operating in the province’s south and west, while militant attacks in areas bordering Iran and Afghanistan have also persisted.
The rest of the country — including Sindh, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan — saw comparatively fewer incidents, though the report noted that even limited attacks in these regions represented a notable percentage rise from previous quarters.
Security operations intensify
A key finding of the CRSS study is the changing nature of violence. While militant attacks continue to claim numerous lives, a growing share of fatalities now results from security operations launched by the state.
In 2024, around 33 per cent of total deaths were caused by such operations. In 2025, this figure has risen sharply — security-led actions have accounted for 1,265 fatalities, or more than half of all deaths recorded this year.
Out of the total victims in the third quarter of 2025, militants or outlaws comprised 57 per cent, civilians 24 per cent, and security personnel 18 per cent. The report indicates that the surge in security-led fatalities points to a more aggressive counterterrorism posture by the government, though it cautions that civilian casualties remain a serious concern in high-intensity operations.
Alarming trend
The report attributes the persistent violence to a combination of factors — chiefly, the resurgence of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), renewed activity of Baloch insurgents, and the overall fragility of border management with Afghanistan.
CRSS observed that the continuing infiltration of militants from across the western frontier and their growing cooperation with local outfits have complicated the security landscape. The report also notes that militants have adapted their tactics, employing roadside bombs, targeted killings, and suicide attacks aimed at both security and civilian targets.
With one quarter of the year still remaining, CRSS has warned that Pakistan could surpass last year’s toll, making 2025 one of the deadliest years in recent history. The report called for a recalibration of counterterrorism strategy, urging better intelligence-sharing, community engagement, and coordination between federal and provincial authorities.