ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism has begun to yield results, as the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has led to a notable decline in terrorist attacks, according to a new security report. The findings highlight a short-term improvement in security following decisive military and diplomatic measures.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) annual report, terrorist attacks dropped by nearly 17 percent in December 2025 and by 9 percent in November after Pakistan shut key border crossings with Afghanistan in October. The report also noted a reduction in terrorism-related fatalities among civilians and security personnel during the last quarter of the year.
Border Closure Curtails Violence
Pakistan closed the Torkham and Chaman border crossings on October 12 after Afghan Taliban fighters and affiliated militants launched coordinated attacks on multiple Pakistan Army posts. The unprovoked assaults triggered intense border clashes between October 11 and 12.
As a result of the fighting, more than 200 Taliban and allied militants were killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom. Subsequently, Islamabad carried out precision strikes inside Afghanistan, targeting militant hideouts in Kandahar province and Kabul. Following these developments, a 48-hour ceasefire was announced on October 15 at Kabul’s request, and both sides later reached a formal ceasefire agreement on October 19 in Qatar through mediation by Doha and Türkiye.
CRSS data further showed that violence-linked civilian deaths fell by nearly 4 percent in November and 19 percent in December. Security force fatalities also declined during the same period, indicating improved border control and counterterrorism effectiveness.
2025 Marked Most Violent Year in a Decade
Despite recent improvements, the CRSS report described 2025 as Pakistan’s most violent year in a decade. Overall violence surged by 34 percent compared to 2024, continuing a five-year upward trend since 2021 following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
The year recorded 1,272 violent incidents, resulting in 3,417 fatalities and 2,134 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and militants. This marked a sharp increase from 2,555 fatalities in 2024.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained the hardest-hit regions, accounting for over 96 percent of all deaths. KP alone recorded a 44 percent year-on-year increase in fatalities, while Balochistan saw a 22 percent rise. In contrast, Punjab and Sindh reported comparatively lower levels of violence.
