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Militant violence witnesses 16pc decline in June

July 02, 2026
Security personnel stand guard outside a mosque following an explosion in Islamabad on February 6, 2026. — AFP
Security personnel stand guard outside a mosque following an explosion in Islamabad on February 6, 2026. — AFP

Islamabad:Despite several high-profile attacks, Pakistan witnessed a decline in overall anti-state violence and related security incidents during June 2026, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank monitoring militancy, anti-state violence and related security trends.

According to PICSS, at least 262 people were killed and 134 injured in June 2026. Militants accounted for the largest share of fatalities, as 184 militants were killed in actions by Pakistani security forces.

Apart from militants, 52 civilians and 26 security forces personnel also lost their lives during the month. The breakdown of the injured showed that 63 civilians, 50 security forces personnel, 18 pro-government peace committee members and three militants were wounded.

Compared with May 2026, fatalities among Pakistani security forces declined by 62 percent, while civilian deaths dropped by 27 percent. Militant fatalities also registered a 32 percent decrease.

Among the injured, PICSS recorded a 43 percent decline in security forces casualties, a 57 percent decrease among civilians and a 67 percent reduction among militants. PICSS also noted a 50 percent reduction in kidnappings, with 27 people kidnapped in June compared with 54 in May 2026. Pakistani security forces also arrested at least 27 suspected militants during the month.

The number of militant attacks also declined, falling from 128 in May to 108 in June, a reduction of around 16 percent. However, the country continued to face high-impact attacks, including at least four suicide attacks.

Three of these were vehicle-borne suicide bombings, including a high-profile attack targeting Sindh Rangers in Karachi. Balochistan witnessed a significant decline in militant violence, with 49 attacks reported in June compared with 71 in May, marking a 31 percent reduction. The tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly FATA, also recorded a decline, with 17 attacks in June compared with 22 in May, a decrease of 23 percent.

However, the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed a slight increase, with 37 attacks reported in June compared with 32 in May, showing a 16 percent rise. Sindh also recorded an increase, with four attacks reported in June compared with only one in May 2026. Punjab witnessed only one attack, while no militant attack was reported from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan.

During the first six months of 2026, PICSS recorded 2,166 fatalities, including 1,442 militants, 404 civilians, 307 security forces personnel and 13 members of pro-government peace committees.