Terror incidents considerably decline in March as Operation Ghazab lil-Haq delivers gains

• CRSS report attributes downward trend to Pakistan’s coordinated and effective strategy under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

• Overall 59pc monthly drop witnessed in terror incidents, with 57pc fall in KP

• Both terrorist incidents and fatalities declined during first quarter of year compared to same period last year

 ISLAMABAD: Terrorist incidents in Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in March, with violence dropping sharply following the launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, according to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The fact-based report revealed that terrorist incidents decreased by 59 percent in March compared to February, marking a substantial improvement in the country’s security landscape.

It further noted that, compared to the previous quarter, terrorism declined by 57 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a noticeable reduction also observed in other regions.

The report attributed the downward trend to Pakistan’s coordinated and effective strategy under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, stating that the nefarious designs of terrorist groups had been significantly disrupted. It added that both terrorist incidents and fatalities declined during the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.

The CRSS findings coincided with fresh data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), which recorded a 35 percent decline in combat-related fatalities across the country in March.

According to the PICSS report, 331 people were killed during the month, a sharp drop from 506 fatalities recorded in February. Analysts attributed this reduction to the impact of Pakistan’s cross-border strikes targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan.

Despite an increase in the number of militant attacks, the overall lethality of such incidents declined. The think tank observed a reduction in high-profile attacks, suggesting that militant operational capabilities may have been weakened.

CRSS data showed that overall terrorist incidents in Pakistan declined by 18 percent during the first three months of the current year.

The report also noted that higher militant casualties during security forces’ operations reflected improved coordination, precision, and effectiveness of these operations.

According to the report, attacks targeting unarmed civilians were reported in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the federal capital, carried out by Fitna al-Khwarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

In response to ongoing military operations, groups including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaatul Ahrar, and Ittihadul Mujahideen announced an escalation in activities against Pakistan. However, their overall impact remained limited, as reflected in the declining casualty figures.

Civilian fatalities recorded the sharpest decline, falling by 70 percent from 132 in February to 39 in March. Fatalities among security forces dropped by 26 percent, from 80 to 59, while militant deaths decreased by 22 percent, from 294 to 228.

Overall injuries also declined by 37 percent, falling from 333 in February to 210 in March. Civilian injuries saw the steepest reduction, dropping by 62 percent, while injuries among security personnel declined slightly. In contrast, militant injuries increased, indicating intensified engagements during operations.

The report highlighted a shift in militant tactics, with a rise in low-intensity attacks even as large-scale operations declined. The number of militant attacks increased to 146 in March from 83 in February, while suicide bombings dropped significantly from five to one.

Security forces arrested 41 suspected militants during the month, while militants abducted 19 individuals. The report also pointed to a concerning rise in attacks on pro-government peace committee members, indicating a shift towards softer targets.

Regionally, Balochistan recorded the highest number of fatalities, though deaths declined significantly from 285 in February to 189 in March. Civilian, militant, and security forces’ casualties all showed a downward trend in the province.

International experts also noted that under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, militant hubs in Afghanistan had suffered substantial damage, contributing to an improved security situation in Pakistan.

They emphasized that achieving sustainable peace in the region would require eliminating terrorist networks and their facilitators operating under the patronage of the Taliban regime.

The report concluded that the reduction in terrorist incidents reflected Pakistan’s firm resolve and underscored the effectiveness of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.