Pakistan Violence Surges 46% in 2025: CRSS Report Warns of Deadliest Year in Decade

Pakistan recorded 1,527 fatalities between January-September, 2024 (Representational)

Islamabad:

According to the latest security report from the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan has experienced a significant 46 percent increase in overall violence during the third quarter of 2025.

The report documents that Pakistan suffered at least 901 fatalities and 599 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, stemming from 329 violent incidents including terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations.

CRSS reported, "2025 has already proven nearly as deadly as the entire year of 2024, with 2414 fatalities recorded compared to 2024's total of 2546. With an entire quarter still remaining, 2025 is on track to exceed last year's toll, showing both intensification of violence and expanded counter-terrorism operations. If current trends continue, 2025 could become one of the deadliest years in a decade, as confirmed by year-on-year comparisons."

Between January and September 2024, Pakistan documented 1,527 fatalities. The 2414 deaths during the same period in 2025 represent a 58 percent surge in violence. However, the sources of fatalities have shifted significantly. In 2024, security operations resulted in 505 deaths while terrorist attacks claimed 1022 lives. The report notes, "In 2025, security operations accounted for 1265 deaths - over half of the total fatalities, highlighting how the state's response has intensified, with security forces inflicting heavier losses on militants."

The CRSS report highlighted that "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan accounted for over 96 percent of the country's violence this quarter, emerging as the most volatile provinces. KP was worst affected, suffering nearly 71 percent (638) of total violence-related fatalities and over 67 percent (221) of violent incidents, followed by Balochistan with over 25 percent of fatalities (230) and incidents (85). All other regions recorded relatively low numbers of fatalities, injuries, and incidents."

Compared to Q2 2025, total fatalities increased from 616 to 901 during the reviewed period, driving the reported 46 percent rise in violence. The most substantial increases occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with 64 percent (from 390 to 638 fatalities) and 21 percent (from 190 to 230) increases, respectively. Sindh also experienced a 162 percent rise in fatalities, though the actual numbers were lower, increasing from 8 in Q2 to 21 in Q3, 2025.

The report noted, "It's worth mentioning that in the previous quarter, CRSS reported approximately 32 percent and 40 percent less violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, respectively, compared to Q1. Analysis of the Q3 2025 security landscape by violence victims reveals interesting security trends with both alarming and encouraging insights. The total outlaw fatalities (516) still exceeded the combined fatalities of security personnel and civilians (385)."

"Outlaws accounted for the majority of fatalities this quarter at 57 percent (516), followed by civilians at over 24 percent (219), and security personnel at over 18 percent (166). Compared to Q2 2025, these figures represent approximately 55 percent more losses among outlaws (516 vs 333), over 43 percent among civilians (219 vs 153), and nearly 28 percent among security personnel (166 vs 130)," the report concluded.