By: Hamza Shahzad
Pakistan experienced a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2025, despite record losses among extremist groups. According to the Pakistan Security Report 2025, released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), terrorist attacks increased by 34 percent, while terrorism-related fatalities rose by 21 percent compared to the previous year. A total of 699 incidents were reported nationwide, resulting in at least 1,034 deaths and 1,366 injuries. The report highlights a persistent upward trend in militancy since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
The burden of violence fell disproportionately on state defenders. Security and law enforcement personnel accounted for over 42 percent of all terrorism-related fatalities, with 437 personnel killed. Civilians were also heavily affected, with 354 non-combatants losing their lives.
These figures underscore the frontline nature of the conflict and the sustained targeting of army, police, and paramilitary forces. Concurrently, 243 militants were killed, either during suicide attacks they carried out or in retaliatory operations by security forces. The conflict remained highly regionalized, with more than 95 percent of attacks concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.
In Balochistan, the insurgency evolved both in scale and sophistication. The province recorded 254 militant attacks in 2025, resulting in 419 deaths and 607 injuries. The frequency and complexity of attacks increased, exemplified by a coordinated wave of assaults across 11 districts on Independence Day, a symbolic challenge to state authority. In March, the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express was hijacked in Bolan, marking the first attack of its kind in the region. Overall, militant operations in Balochistan increased by 26 percent and shifted toward high-impact, coordinated strategies. Proscribed groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), moved beyond traditional hit-and-run tactics. They executed highway blockades, sieges, and hijackings, directly targeting economic infrastructure and state symbols to amplify political messaging and disrupt governance.
Although, The Government of Balochistan undertook a series of decisive steps and legislative measures to prevent violent extremism in 2025. The Balochistan Assembly adopted this amendment, granting law enforcement agencies enhanced powers to detain individuals for up to three months without formal charges, aimed at curbing terrorism and preempting attacks. To strengthen law and order, improve coordination, and ensure faster response times, the provincial government merged the Balochistan Levies and federal Levies forces of six major divisions into a unified Balochistan Police. Previously, the Levies Force policed approximately 90 percent of the province, while the police operated in the remaining 10 percent. The merger created a more integrated and responsive security structure. With support from the federal government, the Balochistan government banned the Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) suicidal wing, the Majeed Brigade, officially designating it as a terrorist organization. This measure significantly disrupted the logistical and tactical capabilities of the group. To prevent militants from exploiting protests for operational movement, the provincial government adopted a zero-tolerance approach toward road blockades. Arrests of key leadership of the Baloch Yakjehty Council (BYC), including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, reinforced this policy. Deputy commissioners were directed to ensure smooth traffic flow on major highways. A major intelligence success occurred two days before Independence Day, when a professor at BUITEMS was arrested for acting as a sleeper cell and facilitator for the BLA Majeed Brigade. He later confessed to providing support for a planned suicide attack targeting passengers at Quetta Railway Station. These combined efforts reflect a comprehensive approach by the Government of Balochistan, encompassing legislative, operational, intelligence, and law-enforcement measures to counter violent extremism and enhance security across the province
The Pakistan Security Report 2025 underscores a critical and evolving security landscape, marked by a sharp rise in militant activity and increasingly sophisticated attacks. Despite significant losses among extremist groups, Pakistan faced a 34 percent increase in terrorist incidents and a 21 percent rise in fatalities, with civilians and security personnel disproportionately affected. The concentration of violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan highlights the regionalized nature of the threat, while high-impact, coordinated attacks in Balochistan reflect the insurgency’s growing complexity and strategic intent.
At the same time, the proactive measures undertaken by the Government of Balochistan demonstrate a multi-faceted approach to countering violent extremism. Legislative reforms, the integration of security forces, the banning of militant wings, and targeted intelligence operations collectively enhanced the province’s capacity to respond to threats. Notable successes, including the disruption of planned attacks and arrests of facilitators, illustrate the effectiveness of coordinated operational, legal, and intelligence-led strategies.
The report highlights that while militancy in Pakistan remains a serious challenge, sustained, adaptive, and comprehensive counterterrorism measures, combining law enforcement, intelligence, legal frameworks, and community engagement, are essential to mitigating threats and strengthening national security.
