Pakistan Violence Escalates: Civilian Death Toll Tops 900
CRSS Report Highlights Sharp Increase in Deaths from Terrorist Attacks and Military Operations Across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: Over 900 people have been killed in Pakistan in the past three months as violence from militant attacks and military operations surged sharply, according to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The report recorded at least 901 deaths and 599 injuries across 329 violent incidents, marking a 46% rise compared to the previous quarter. So far in 2025, Pakistan has reported 2,414 fatalities, nearly matching last year’s total of 2,546, with three months still remaining indicating a potential record for one of the deadliest years in a decade.
A shift in the pattern of violence was also noted. While militant attacks accounted for most deaths last year, over half of the casualties this year resulted from army and police operations. Between July and September, 57% of deaths were militants, 24% civilians, and 18% security forces.
The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan were the hardest hit. KP reported 638 deaths across more than 200 incidents, while Balochistan recorded 230 fatalities, primarily due to military operations. Sindh also saw a rise, with 21 deaths compared to 8 in the previous quarter.
Civilian casualties remain a grave concern. A recent airstrike in Tirah Valley, KP, killed 21 people, including women and children, while at least 10 protesters were killed in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir during demonstrations against corruption and poor living conditions. An explosion on a railway track in Sindh’s Shikarpur district injured seven and derailed four coaches of the Jaffar Express.
The CRSS report noted that civilians bore the brunt of attacks, with 123 targeted incidents causing 355 injuries, compared to 209 among security personnel and 35 among militants. Militants suffered the highest number of fatalities, but civilians remain the primary victims of the ongoing conflict.
If current trends continue, 2025 could mark one of Pakistan’s deadliest years in recent history, underscoring a deepening security crisis across the country.
