• PICSS says 355 militants and 72 security personnel died
• 31 kidnapped in Balochistan, 18 in KP’s tribal areas
• Three militant attacks took place in Sindh, one in Punjab
• 2,853 deaths recorded in the first 10 months of 2025

ISLAMABAD: Militants suffered their heaviest losses in a decade during October this year, as security forces intensified counter-militancy operations across several regions of the country, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The monthly figures show that 458 people were killed in October, including 355 militants, 72 security personnel, 30 civilians, and one member of a pro-government peace committee. Another 162 people were injured — 92 security personnel, 48 civilians, and 22 militants. Security forces arrested 22 suspected militants, while militants kidnapped 55 people, marking the highest number of abductions in a single month in 10 years.

The PICSS Militancy Database recorded a 29 per cent increase in militant attacks — rising from 69 in September to 89 in October — though overall human losses in these attacks fell by 19pc. A total of 109 people were killed in militant-initiated violence, including 55 security personnel, 29 civilians, 24 militants, and one peace committee member. These attacks also left 134 people injured — 88 security personnel, 45 civilians, and one militant.

In Balochistan, 23 militant attacks were reported in October compared to 21 in September, but casualties dropped sharply from 79 to 27. Among the dead were 16 security personnel, eight militants, and three civilians. The number of injured fell from 122 to 36, including 15 security personnel, 20 civilians, and one militant. However, militants kidnapped 31 people — mostly labourers — during October.

Security forces killed 67 militants in various operations, the highest monthly militant death toll in the province since 2002, when the current wave of militancy began. The report described this as a significant improvement in the province’s security situation, noting a 92pc decline in civilian deaths and a 52pc drop in security personnel fatalities.

In tribal districts (erstwhile Fata) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 militant attacks were recorded — the same as in September — but casualties increased considerably. Thirty-one people were killed, including 18 security personnel and 13 civilians, while 45 were injured — 32 security personnel and 13 civilians.

Militants also kidnapped 18 people from the region. The data showed a 200pc rise in security personnel deaths, up from six to 18, and a 48 per cent overall increase in fatalities. Security operations in the region killed 209 militants, the highest single-month militant death toll since November 2014. Sixteen security personnel were also killed in these operations, including during the deadliest incident in Orakzai district, which triggered border tensions with Afghanistan.

The PICSS confirmed that security forces also eliminated banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s former deputy emir and shadow defence minister, Qari Amjad, in Bajaur — the most high-profile TTP death since the group’s inception in 2007.

In mainland KP, 37 militant attacks took place in October compared to 25 in September, resulting in 48 deaths — 21 security personnel, 10 civilians, 16 militants, and one peace committee member. Forty-two people were injured, including 35 security personnel and seven civilians, while four people were kidnapped.

Security operations killed 55 militants, while one security personnel lost his life. The PICSS data showed that militant deaths in operations fell from 88 in September to 55 in October.

In Sindh, three militant attacks killed three civilians and injured seven people, including four civilians and three security personnel. The report also noted increased activity of the Iran-backed Al-Zainabiyun Brigade, with eight suspected militants, including key commanders, arrested. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army targeted the Jaffar Express in Sindh’s Shikarpur district with an IED, derailing four bogies and injuring seven passengers.

Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed three attacks, including two attempted target killings apparently carried out by the Al-Zainabiyun Brigade, while the TTP abducted two officials of the Water and Power Development Authority.

In Punjab, one low-intensity attack occurred when TTP militants blew up a gas pipeline in Mianwali district. Security forces also arrested an Al-Qaeda operative from Okara district.

Cumulatively, the PICSS recorded 2,853 deaths in the first 10 months of 2025 — including 1,734 militants, 601 security personnel, 497 civilians, and 21 pro-government combatants. The institute concluded that while militant violence persists, the sharp rise in militant deaths reflects the growing effectiveness of the country’s counter-militancy operations.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2025