Civilian Deaths Surge Amid Rise in Militant Attacks: PICSS Report: Islamabad, March 4, 2025
Militant violence in February 2025 saw a marginal increase in attacks but a sharp surge in civilian casualties, according to a report by the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The country witnessed 79 militant attacks, resulting in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 81 security forces personnel and 45 civilians sustained injuries.
Security forces intensified their counter-militancy operations, eliminating 156 militants, injuring 20, and arresting 66. February 2025 marked the first month since August 2024 in which civilian fatalities surpassed those of security forces. Civilian deaths rose by 175 percent compared to January 2025, when 20 civilians were killed, while security forces’ casualties declined by 18 percent, down from 57 in January. Militant fatalities also dropped by 25 percent, with 208 killed in January compared to 156 in February.
A significant increase in militant arrests was recorded in February, with 66 suspects detained—the highest monthly figure since December 2023, when 139 militants were apprehended. Notably, 50 of these arrests occurred in the erstwhile FATA region, while 16 were made in Punjab.
Balochistan remained the most volatile province, recording 32 militant attacks that claimed 56 lives, including 35 civilians, 10 security personnel, and 11 militants. The attacks also left 44 people injured, including 32 security forces personnel and 12 civilians. Militants abducted two individuals during the month. The Bashir Zeb and Azad factions of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and the United Baloch Army (UBA) claimed responsibility for most of these attacks. Security forces, in response, killed 11 militants in Balochistan.
In erstwhile FATA, 21 militant attacks were reported, leading to the deaths of 22 security personnel and eight civilians. Additionally, 26 security forces personnel and 11 civilians were injured. Security forces killed at least 98 militants, injured 15, and arrested 50 suspected militants in the region. Most of the attacks were claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while Lashkar-e-Islam and factions of Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group also claimed responsibility of few attacks.
Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 23 militant attacks, resulting in 14 security forces personnel and 12 civilian deaths, while 22 civilians and an equal number of security personnel were injured. Security forces killed 47 militants in the province. Most of the attacks were claimed by TTP in KP.
Sindh witnessed three minor militant attacks, resulting in the death of one security official and injury to another. One attack was claimed by Sindhu Desh Revolutionary Army and one by Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group. It was first ever attack claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group outside KP in which a police personnel was shot dead in Manghopir of Karachi.
No militant attack was reported in Punjab, but security forces arrested 16 suspected militants from various locations. No incidents of militant violence were reported from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, or Islamabad.
During the first two months of 2025, militants carried out 153 attacks nationwide, claiming 179 lives, including 104 security personnel and 75 civilians, while 233 individuals were injured—134 security personnel and 99 civilians. Security forces eliminated 364 militants, injured 51, and arrested 70 suspected militants. Additionally, militants kidnapped 46 individuals during this period.
During the week of March 7–13, 2025, Pakistan witnessed a slight decrease in militant attacks, though the intensity of violence remained unchanged. A total of 15 militant attacks were recorded, compared to 19 in the previous week. However, the week gained significant attention due to the hijacking of the Jaffar Express by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a high-profile incident that unfolded over three days. The attack resulted in the tragic killing of 21 hostages — later revealed by PICSS to be off-duty security personnel traveling home — and four security forces personnel. Despite a phased rescue operation that eliminated 33 militants, the incident highlighted serious security and intelligence failures.Regionally, Balochistan saw a sharp 80% surge in militant activity, reporting nine attacks compared to five the previous week. In contrast, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) experienced a 50% drop, with three attacks, while erstwhile FATA recorded a 25% decrease, reporting three incidents. The week’s militant tactics included five targeted killings, five tactical assaults, two grenade attacks, and one each of an IED explosion, a combined suicide attack and tactical assault, and a kidnapping.Security forces carried out four counter-terrorism operations, resulting in the elimination of 12 alleged militants and the arrest of 10 […]
