ISLAMABAD: A significant reduction of 35 per cent in combat-related fatalities was recorded across Pakistan during March, coinciding with the launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, PICSS said in its latest report.
According to the report released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) on Thursday, while the overall number of militant attacks witnessed an increase during the month, the report observed a notable decline in high-profile operations and a decrease in the lethality of such engagements.
The statistical data compiled by the institute reveals that security forces’ fatalities dropped from 80 in the preceding month to 59 in the previous month, marking a 26 per cent reduction.
Similarly, militant deaths fell from 294 to 228, representing a 22 per cent decline, whereas injuries among security personnel also saw a marginal improvement, sliding from 50 to 48. Despite these monthly gains, the PICSS report underscored a sobering long-term trend, noting that Pakistan has experienced a rise in terrorism-related deaths for the sixth consecutive year, even though the total number of attacks saw a slight decline in 2025.
The findings suggest that while the frequency of smaller-scale skirmishes may be rising, the intensity and success rate of high-impact militant strikes have been dampened by ongoing kinetic operations.
Analysts believe the figures reflect the initial impact of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in disrupting organised militant networks, though the persistence of annual casualty growth highlights the enduring nature of the security challenge.
The report remains a critical indicator of the shifting dynamics in the country’s internal security landscape as the state continues its cross-border and domestic counter-terrorism efforts.
