High-profile attacks persist in June despite overall decline in terrorism: PICSS

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

According to PICSS — an Islamabad-based think tank that monitors terrorism, anti-state violence and related security trends — 184 militants were killed in operations by Pakistani security forces, accounting for the largest share of the total 262 fatalities.

On the other hand, 52 civilians and 26 security forces personnel 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 terrorists were wounded.

Compared with May, fatalities among Pakistani security forces declined by 62 per cent, while civilian deaths dropped by 27pc. Terrorist deaths also registered a 32pc decrease.

Among the injured, PICSS recorded a 43pc decline in security forces casualties, a 57pc decrease among civilians and a 67pc reduction among terrorists.

PICSS also noted a 50pc reduction in kidnappings, with 27 people kidnapped in June compared with 54 in May. Pakistani security forces also arrested at least 27 suspected terrorists during the month.

The number of terrorist attacks also declined, falling from 128 in May to 108 in June, a reduction of around 16pc.

However, PICSS noted, the country continued to face “high-impact attacks, including at least four suicide attacks”.

Three of these were vehicle-borne suicide bombings, including the “high-profile attack” targeting Sindh Rangers in Karachi on June 27, which claimed the lives of three security personnel.

In May, the country had witnessed six suicide attacks, including four vehicle-borne suicide bombings.

Province-wise breakdown

Providing a province-wise breakdown for June, PICSS observed that Balochistan witnessed a “significant decline” in terrorism.

The province recorded 49 attacks in June compared with 71 in May, marking a 31pc reduction.

The tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly Fata, also recorded a decline, with 17 attacks in June compared with 22 in May, representing a 23pc decrease.

However, the rest of KP witnessed a “slight increase”, PICSS said, as the province recorded 37 attacks in June compared with 32 in May, representing a 16pc rise.

On June 9, six Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were martyred and four were injured while responding to an attempt by terrorists to capture a post in Peshawar’s Hassan Khel area, sources said. Eight terrorists were killed in retaliatory action.

Sindh also recorded an increase in terrorism, with four attacks reported in June compared with only one in May, the think tank said.

“Punjab witnessed only one attack, while no militant attack was reported from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan,” PICSS said.

The report also provided the figures for the first six months of 2026: 2,166 fatalities, including 1,442 terrorists, 404 civilians, 307 security forces personnel and 13 members of pro-government peace committees.

Another 1,137 people were injured during this period, including 692 civilians, 281 security forces personnel, 136 terrorists and 28 peace committee members.

In 2025, Pakistan ranked number one on the Global Terrorism Index for the first time, recording a 6pc increase in terrorism-related deaths (1,139). ...