ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded an 18% decline in overall violence linked to militancy and counterterrorism in the first quarter of 2026, following the launch of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, officials and analysts said.
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) said 813 people were killed and 518 injured in 248 incidents during the quarter. The casualties included civilians, security personnel, and militants.
CRSS said the drop in violence came mainly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where security forces conducted effective anti-terror operations against Fitna al Khawarij backed by Afghan Taliban. Deaths there fell to 311, down from 727 in the previous quarter, a decline of more than 57%.
Authorities launched the operation in late February, targeting militant networks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Security sources said forces killed around 700 Afghan Taliban fighters, members of the TTP, referred as Fitna al Khawarij. Forces also destroyed 249 checkposts and seized 44.
Pakistan continues to face twin insurgencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Militants have carried out suicide bombings and drone attacks in recent months.
CRSS said the overall decline masked a worsening security situation in parts of the country. It described Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as the main centers of violence, accounting for about 93% of all fatalities.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for 38% of deaths, while Balochistan made up 55%. Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh reported minimal activity, with only four incidents and eight deaths combined.
Militant attacks outnumbered security operations by nearly 2.7 to one, with 180 attacks compared to 68 operations. However, security operations caused more fatalities. Forces killed 449 militants, while attacks killed 364 civilians and security personnel.
CRSS said the data showed that security operations were more lethal on average than militant attacks.
The report also noted a shift in militant tactics. Groups increasingly used explosives, advanced weapons, and drone technology. Both Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij groups adopted drones during the period.
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Pakistan has pledged to continue operations until it eliminates militancy. Islamabad continuously asked Afghanistan to stop sheltering militant groups that launch attacks from its territory.
