• Think tank’s report says 205 security personnel and civilians lost their lives, 401 terrorists killed
• Balochistan records sharpest deterioration with deaths rising by 241pc over the figure for June
ISLAMABAD: Violence linked to terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations intensified sharply in July, making it the deadliest month of 2026, with 112 security personnel among 205 people who lost their lives, while 401 terrorists were eliminated.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, said in its monthly security assessment that rising terrorist attacks and intensified counter-terrorism operations led to sharp increases in fatalities among both security personnel and terrorists.
At least 112 security personnel lost their lives during July, the highest monthly toll since January 2023 and the second-highest in more than a decade.
In January 2023, 114 personnel were martyred, including around 102 in the Peshawar Police Lines suicide bombing.
The report said 401 terrorists were killed during July, the highest monthly figure in more than a decade.
It also recorded 74 civilian and 19 peace committee member deaths, with the latter marking the highest monthly toll in the past decade.
A total of 232 people were injured, including 101 security personnel, 103 civilians, 14 peace committee members and 14 terrorists.
Compared with June, security personnel deaths rose by 195pc from 38 to 112, terrorist deaths by 109pc from 192 to 401, and civilian deaths by 21pc from 61 to 74.
PICSS recorded eight suicide attacks, including five vehicle-borne bombings, the highest monthly number in more than a decade. Kidnappings also doubled, increasing from 33 in June to 66 in July.
Province-wise breakdown
Balochistan saw the sharpest deterioration, with deaths rising by 241pc from 109 in June to 372 in July.
Security personnel deaths increased from six to 62, a rise of 933pc. Terrorist deaths went up from 75 to 238, and civilian deaths increased by 93pc, from 28 to 54. Meanwhile, 18 peace committee members were also killed.
Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, excluding the merged districts, recorded 154 deaths in July, up from 75 in June — representing an increase of 105pc. Meanwhile, injuries rose from 60 to 98.
Security personnel deaths increased from 12 to 38 and terrorist deaths from 37 to 108, reflecting a rise by 192pc, but civilian deaths fell from 26 to seven, a decline by 73pc. One peace committee member was also killed.
The merged districts of KP recorded a slight decline in deaths, from 85 in June to 79 in July, while injuries dropped from 60 to 38.
Security personnel deaths rose from six to 11, terrorist deaths fell from 72 to 55, a decline by 24p. Civilian deaths rose by 86pc, increasing from seven to 13.
Sindh recorded two terrorist attacks in which one security personnel member lost his life. Security forces also arrested six suspected terrorists during counter-terrorism operations.
Punjab, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed no terrorist violence during July, although security forces arrested three suspected terrorists in Punjab.
Overall, the first seven months of 2026 saw 2,786 deaths linked to terrorist violence and counter-terrorism operations, including 1,857 terrorists, 463 civilians, 434 security personnel and 32 peace committee members.
Average monthly security personnel martyrdoms rose from 56 in 2025 to 62 in 2026, while average monthly civilian deaths increased from 48 to 66 and terrorist deaths from 178 to 265.
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026
