Surge in Terrorism Attributed to Key Strategic Gaps, Reveals DG ISPR in Latest Briefing

ISLAMABAD – October 11, 2025:
In a high-level security briefing, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) outlined five critical factors behind the recent surge in terrorism across Pakistan, with a particular focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The statement comes amid alarming statistics and operational updates shared by both the DG ISPR and DG ISI, shedding light on the evolving security landscape in the region.

According to DG ISPR, the resurgence in terrorist incidents can be attributed to the following five core issues:

1. National Action Plan (NAP) not completely implemented: The DG emphasized that the failure to completely enforce NAP remains the most significant shortcoming in Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.

2. Politicization of terrorism: He cautioned against the increasing trend of political narratives influencing and undermining counterterrorism policy and actions.

3. India’s involvement through Afghan territory: India is allegedly using Afghan soil as a launchpad to support and orchestrate terrorist activities inside Pakistan.

4. Afghanistan as a safe haven for militants: Terrorist groups continue to find refuge across the border, with the DG highlighting the danger posed by abandoned U.S. military ammunition now in the hands of militant elements.

5. The crime-terror nexus within Pakistan: A growing link between organized crime and terrorist networks is further complicating internal security operations.

Counterterrorism Operations in KP: Year-to-Date Update for 2025

The DG ISI presented the latest figures regarding security operations in KP up to September 15, 2025, in the press conference by DG ISPR. The data underlines the scale and intensity of the military’s engagement:

• Total Operations: 10,115
  (Approx. 40 operations daily)

• Terrorists Neutralized: 917
  (Approx. 3.5 per day)

• Martyrdoms Recorded: 516

  • Pakistan Army: 311

  • Police Personnel: 73

  • Civilians: 132

Comparative Figures: Full Year 2024

In 2024, the Pakistan Army conducted:

• Total IBOs (Intelligence-Based Operations): 14,535
  (Approx. 40 daily)

• Terrorists Killed: 769
  (Approx. 2.1 per day)

• Martyred Individuals: 577

  • Pakistan Army: 272

  • Police: 140

  • Civilians: 165

Regional Focus and Growing Threats

All operations and casualties reported above pertain exclusively to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where both the intensity of militant activity and the sacrifices of security personnel have sharply increased over the past two years.

Security experts view these figures as a stark indicator of a complex and escalating battlefront, with the region once again emerging as a critical zone in Pakistan’s broader counterterrorism strategy.

The military leadership has signaled a renewed resolve to intensify operations and address systemic weaknesses. However, the briefing also highlights a pressing need for comprehensive policy enforcement, regional cooperation, and depoliticized national unity to combat terrorism effectively.

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