AS Pakistan continues to grapple with the menace of militancy, the number of terrorist attacks present a mixed picture. According to the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the number of terrorist attacks in the country dipped by 16pc in June as compared to May. Casualties amongst the security forces and civilians also dropped. While this may highlight a positive trend, indicating that counterterrorism efforts are producing results, the data shows, at the same time, that high-profile attacks, including suicide bombings, continue to pose a challenge. The latest such attack occurred last week targeting a Rangers’ facility in Karachi. Balochistan has witnessed a 31pc reduction in attacks, but while attacks in KP’s tribal districts are also down, the rest of the province saw a “slight increase” in terrorist activity.
The figures compiled by the organisation for the first half of 2026 show that there were over 2,100 fatalities in this period. Though the vast majority of deaths were those of the terrorists, over 700 security personnel and civilians were martyred between January and June. These are not small numbers. The list of the injured is also considerable. Therefore, the authorities need to keep a vigilant eye on terrorist groups, and keep adapting CT strategies to further uproot militant networks, with minimum loss of innocent lives. The number of attacks may be down, but the state must prevent high-profile suicide attacks through effective intelligence-based operations. The latest incident in Karachi indicates that terrorist groups could be moving from the peripheries to urban centres to carry out attacks. The state should act accordingly and thwart their violent plans. While terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan continue to pose a threat, the administration must do all possible to ensure that no spaces are available within Pakistan’s borders for militants to plan acts of terrorism. With concerted, multipronged efforts, the monster of terrorism can be defeated.
Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2026
