Islamabad:
The month of February 2025 saw a marginal increase in terrorist attacks, but a strong increase in civil victims, along with a significant increase in the arrest of terrorists throughout the country, said a ThinkTank based in Islamabad in a report on Sunday.
According to the Institute of Conflict and Security Studies of Pakistan (PICSS), the last month saw 79 terrorist attacks, which resulted in the death of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 81 security personnel and 45 civilians suffered injuries.
“February 2025 marked the first month since August 2024 in which civil deaths surpassed those of security forces,” said Picss. He added that civil deaths increased by 175%, while security personnel decreased 18% compared to January 2025.
In January 2025, 20 civilians were killed, while 57 security personnel were martyred. “The security forces intensified their countermencing operations, eliminating 156 militants, wounding 20 and arresting 66,” PICSS said in a press release.
Terrorist deaths fell by 25%, 156 in February compared to 208 in January. However, there was a significant increase in militant arrests in February, with 66 suspects detained, the highest monthly figure since 139 was rounded in December 2023.
According to the PICSS press release, 50 of the detainees were arrested from the old tribal areas (Fata) administered by the federal government, while another 16 were arrested from Punjab.
Baluchistan remained the most volatile province, registering 32 attacks that charged 56 lives, including 35 civilians, 10 security personnel and 11 terrorists. The attacks left 44 people injured, including 32 security forces and 12 civilians.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), excluding tribal districts or old fata, registered 23 attacks, which resulted in the death of 14 security forces to personnel and 12 civilians, while 22 civilians and an equal number of security personnel were injured.
