ISLAMABAD: Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in violence-related casualties in March 2026, with overall deaths falling by 35% compared to the previous month, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
The report said 331 people were killed in March, down from 506 in February, even as the number of terrorist attacks increased. The think tank attributed the drop in fatalities partly to Pakistan’s cross-border strikes targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, carried out from late February until March 18, before a ceasefire was reached.
Despite threats of escalation by banned outfits including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, and Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen, the overall impact of violence remained limited, with attacks largely shifting towards low-intensity operations.
Civilian casualties saw the sharpest decline, dropping by 70% from 132 in February to 39 in March. Fatalities among security forces fell by 26% to 59, while terrorist deaths decreased by 22% to 228.
Injuries also declined by 37% overall, with 210 reported in March compared to 333 in February. Civilian injuries dropped significantly, while injuries among terrorists rose, indicating increased pressure during security operations.
However, the frequency of terrorist attacks increased, rising to 146 in March from 83 in February. Suicide attacks fell to one in five in the previous month. Terrorists also kidnapped 19 individuals, while security forces arrested 41 suspects.
Regionally, Balochistan recorded the highest number of fatalities, though deaths dropped by 34%. Civilian deaths in the province declined sharply, but injuries surged. The merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also saw a 42% reduction in fatalities, despite a rise in injuries and continued terrorist activity.
In mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fatalities remained largely unchanged, though security forces’ losses declined. The report noted an increase in attacks targeting pro-government peace committee members, signaling a shift by terrorists towards softer targets.
Punjab and Sindh reported no terrorist attacks during the month, while isolated incidents were recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan, where a terrorist attempt near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam was foiled without casualties.
The report concluded that while terrorist groups increased the frequency of attacks, their operational effectiveness appeared to have declined, reflecting the impact of sustained security measures.
