Pakistan experienced a dramatic escalation in violence during the third quarter of 2025, with at least 901 fatalities and 599 injuries resulting from 329 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, according to a report released by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The CRSS data indicates a 46% increase in overall violence compared to the previous quarter, with fatalities among civilians, security personnel, and militants approaching levels seen in all of 2024. In the first three quarters of 2025, 2,414 people have been killed, compared to 2,546 fatalities recorded for the entire year of 2024, signaling that 2025 could become one of the deadliest years in a decade if the trend continues.
The report highlights a shift in the source of fatalities. In 2024, militant attacks claimed 1,022 lives, while security operations were responsible for 505 deaths. In contrast, in 2025, state-led counter-terrorism operations accounted for 1,265 deaths, more than half of the total fatalities, underscoring the intensified response by security forces.
The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan remained the most volatile, accounting for over 96% of the country’s violence during the quarter. KP bore the brunt with 638 fatalities (71%) and 221 violent incidents (67%), while Balochistan recorded 230 deaths (25%) and 85 incidents. Other provinces experienced comparatively lower levels of violence.
Compared to Q2 2025, KP saw a 64% increase in fatalities, while Balochistan experienced a 21% rise. Sindh recorded a notable 162% increase, though total fatalities remained relatively low (21 deaths in Q3 compared to 8 in Q2).
The report also sheds light on the distribution of casualties among different groups. Outlaws accounted for the majority of deaths (516, 57%), followed by civilians (219, 24%) and security personnel (166, 18%). Despite suffering fewer fatalities, civilians were the most frequently targeted, enduring 123 terror attacks and 355 injuries, compared to 106 attacks on security officials (209 injuries) and 100 operations against outlaws (35 injuries).
CRSS noted the high lethality and precision of state-led counter-terrorism operations, which, although fewer in number than terrorist attacks, caused nearly as many fatalities as militant actions.
Pakistan faced a dual threat in Q3 2025. In addition to militant violence, the country suffered from flash floods, glacier melts, and cloudbursts, which devastated homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods, claiming 1,006 lives. Combined with the 901 fatalities from violence, the twin crises underscore the challenges to Pakistan’s human security from both natural disasters and man-made threats.
The CRSS report paints a stark picture of the evolving security landscape in Pakistan, highlighting the intensification of militant activity, the increasingly lethal state response, and the broader vulnerability of civilians in the face of ongoing crises.
