Islamabad: More than 900 people have been killed across Pakistan in the past three months as both terrorist attacks and military operations surged sharply, according to a new report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) released on Monday.
The report recorded 901 deaths and 599 injuries from 329 incidents of violence, including militant attacks and military operations — a 46% increase compared to the previous three months.
So far this year, Pakistan has reported 2,414 fatalities, nearly matching last year’s total of 2,546 deaths. With three months left in 2025, analysts warn the country could be headed toward one of its deadliest years in a decade.
The study also highlights a significant shift in the nature of violence. While militant attacks were the primary cause of deaths last year, security operations now account for over half of the fatalities this year.
Between July and September, 57% of those killed were militants, 24% civilians, and 18% security personnel.
The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan bore the brunt of the violence. KP was the worst-hit, with 638 deaths and over 200 incidents, followed by Balochistan, which reported 230 deaths, mostly linked to military operations.
Sindh also saw a rise in violence, recording 21 deaths compared to eight in the previous quarter, though overall figures remained relatively low.
Civilian casualties have been climbing steadily. Just last week, an airstrike by Pakistan’s Air Force in KP’s Tirah Valley killed 21 people, including women and children. In Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, 10 protesters were killed during demonstrations over corruption and poor living conditions.
On Sunday, a blast on a railway track in Sindh’s Shikarpur district injured seven people and derailed four coaches of the Jaffar Express, according to Dawn.
Although militants accounted for the largest share of total deaths, civilians were the primary targets in most attacks. The report found that 123 incidents targeted civilians, 106 targeted security forces, and around 100 were directed at militants. Civilians also suffered the highest number of injuries — 355, compared to 209 among security personnel and 35 among militants.
The CRSS warned that if current trends persist, 2025 could close as one of Pakistan’s bloodiest years in recent history, underscoring the country’s deteriorating security landscape.
