ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded a second consecutive month of improving security indicators in April, with terrorist attacks and related casualties falling sharply, according to new figures released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
The Islamabad-based research and monitoring organization, which tracks conflict and terrorism trends across Pakistan, reported 85 verified terrorist attacks in April, down from 146 in March, marking a 42% decline.
Fatalities from terrorist attacks also dropped significantly, from 106 in March to 60 in April, extending a downward trend that began in March, when overall violence-related deaths had already fallen by 35%.
The report comes as Pakistan continues to assess the impact of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, its cross-border military campaign launched in late February against terrorist infrastructure and support networks operating from Afghan territory.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly said the operation, combined with intensified domestic security measures, has reduced the operational capacity of terrorist groups and contributed to a broader decline in violence.
According to PICSS, total combat-related deaths in April stood at 291, including those killed in terrorist attacks and security operations.
The report said 224 terrorists were killed in security operations during the month, accounting for 77% of all combat-related deaths.
That figure remains close to March’s total of 228 terrorists killed, reflecting what PICSS described as sustained operational pressure by security forces.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised Pakistan’s security forces for foiling two recent infiltration attempts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Mohmand and North Waziristan, where the military said 13 terrorists linked to “Fitna al-Khawarij” were killed.
Sharif said the operations reflected the professionalism of the armed forces in preventing cross-border infiltration and protecting national security.
“We will continue the fight against the scourge of terrorism until it is completely eradicated from the country,” Sharif said in a statement, referring to the military operations that thwarted the infiltration attempts.
“The entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with our brave armed forces in the unwavering resolve to defend our homeland,” he added.
In total, according to the PICSS report, security forces have killed 988 terrorists in the first four months of 2026.
Losses among security forces also declined sharply, dropping from 59 in March to 28 in April. A 53% reduction.
Civilian deaths remained largely stable at 37, compared to 39 in March.
The report said overall injuries fell from 210 in March to 131 in April, a 38% decline.
Civilian injuries dropped from 98 to 54, while injuries among terrorists declined from 57 to 31. Injuries among security personnel fell slightly from 48 to 46.
The highest concentration of terrorist activity remained in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, though both regions recorded improvements.
In northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts, attacks fell by 40%, while deaths linked to those attacks dropped by 82%, according to the report.
At the same time, security forces intensified operations there, killing 120 terrorists, up sharply from 24 in March.
Southwestern Balochistan province also recorded a 69% decline in attacks, falling from 59 to 18. Security forces killed 66 terrorists in the province during April.
PICSS reported no terrorist attacks in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Islamabad during the month.
However, intelligence-based operations in those regions led to multiple arrests.
The report noted that while terrorist groups continue to carry out attacks, their operational effectiveness appears to be declining under sustained military and law enforcement pressure.
