ISLAMABAD: Pakistan saw a slight uptick in militant attacks in November, but the month was marked by a sharp 80 per cent rise in Civilian Deaths , even as security forces’ losses declined significantly, according to a new report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
The Islamabad-based think tank recorded 292 Civilian Deaths and 164 injuries resulting from militant attacks and counter-terrorism operations across the country during November.
According to PICSS, militant activity remained persistent, but the month reflected “more measured actions” by security forces. Losses among security personnel fell by 65pc, dropping from 72 in October to 25 in November. Civilian casualties, however, surged from 30 to 54, signalling growing vulnerabilities for non-combatants.
The report revealed that militants made up the largest share of fatalities, with 206 killed — about 71pc of all deaths during the month — alongside seven members of pro-government peace committees.
Among the injured were 83 security personnel, 67 civilians, 10 militants and four peace committee members.
Militant Attacks Increase; Suicide Bombings Rise Sharply
PICSS said Pakistan recorded 97 militant attacks in November, up from 89 in the previous month. The highest levels of counter-militancy operations occurred in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 137 militants were killed, followed by the erstwhile Fata, where security forces eliminated 58 militants.
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The month also witnessed a worrying escalation in suicide bombings. PICSS documented four suicide attacks—one each in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and former Fata—compared with just one attack in October. These incidents together left 31 people dead, including 12 civilians, four security personnel and 15 militants.
A total of 64 individuals were wounded in suicide bombings, comprising 41 civilians and 23 security forces personnel.
2025 Emerges as Deadliest Year Since 2015
The think tank highlighted that suicide attacks continue to rise year-on-year. Pakistan has recorded 24 suicide bombings in the first 11 months of 2025, compared with 17 in all of 2024.
The broader conflict landscape also remains grim. Between January and November 2025, PICSS documented 3,144 conflict-related fatalities, including 1,940 militants, 626 security forces personnel, 563 civilians, and 15 peace committee members.
164 injured in anti-state violence and security forces’ counter-measures in November. https://t.co/yGDjdGLM4K
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 2, 2025
Based on these figures, PICSS assessed that 2025 is the deadliest year for militants since 2015, underscoring a sustained escalation in counter-terrorism operations alongside persistent militant activity.
