Islamabad, November 1, 2026: Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in militant violence during October 2026, with militant attacks falling by 37 percent, deaths resulting from these attacks declining by 57 percent, and injuries decreasing by 71 percent compared with September. The improvement was particularly pronounced in Balochistan and mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while suicide attacks also declined. However, kidnappings linked to militant violence increased to their highest monthly level in the past 12 months.
According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based independent think tank monitoring conflict and security developments, 143 militant attacks were recorded across Pakistan during October, compared with 226 in September. The decline reversed two consecutive months of increasing militant attacks.
PICSS data showed that militant attacks resulted in 111 deaths during October, compared with 260 in September, representing a reduction of 57 percent. The number of people injured in these attacks declined from 242 to 69, a decrease of 71 percent.
Overall, militant attacks and security forces’ actions during October resulted in 272 deaths and 71 injuries. Those killed included 53 security forces personnel, five peace committee members, 45 civilians, and 169 militants. The injured included 29 security forces personnel, 11 peace committee members, and 31 civilians.
A rolling 12-month comparison by PICSS showed that injuries resulting from militant attacks fell to their lowest monthly level during the past year. The combined injury toll from militant attacks and security forces’ actions also reached a 12-month low, as did injuries among security forces personnel. The number of suicide attacks was jointly the lowest recorded during the same period. Meanwhile, the number of militants killed, at 169, was also the lowest monthly figure in the past 12 months.
Suicide attacks declined from three in September to one in October. The single incident recorded in October involved a vehicle-borne suicide attack and resulted in no reported deaths or injuries. In comparison, the three suicide attacks recorded in September, including two vehicle-borne incidents, had resulted in 45 deaths and 138 injuries.
According to PICSS, security forces’ actions during October resulted in the killing of 156 militants and the arrest of seven suspected militants. Two security forces personnel and three civilians were killed during these actions, while two security forces personnel were injured.
Balochistan recorded a substantial reduction in militant violence, with attacks declining by 46 percent, from 132 in September to 71 in October. Deaths resulting from militant attacks decreased from 136 to 44, a reduction of approximately 68 percent, while injuries declined from 63 to 37, representing a decrease of 41 percent. Security forces’ actions in the province resulted in the killing of 79 militants. Three civilians were killed and two security forces personnel were injured during these actions.
Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, excluding the merged districts, also witnessed a significant decline. PICSS recorded 40 militant attacks during October, compared with 58 in September, representing a reduction of 31 percent. Deaths resulting from these attacks declined from 90 to 38, a decrease of approximately 58 percent, while injuries fell from 165 to 19, representing a reduction of 88 percent. Security forces’ actions in the region resulted in the killing of 42 militants, while two security forces personnel were killed.
The merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), recorded 30 militant attacks during October, compared with 34 in September, a decline of 12 percent. Deaths resulting from militant attacks decreased from 33 to 25, while injuries increased from 11 to 13. Security forces’ actions in the merged districts resulted in the killing of 35 militants.
Punjab recorded two militant attacks during October, compared with no recorded attacks in September. These incidents resulted in four deaths and no reported injuries.
Sindh witnessed no militant attacks during October. However, security forces’ actions in the province resulted in the arrest of seven suspected militants. Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan also recorded no militant attacks during the month.
Despite the overall decline in attacks and casualties, kidnappings increased during October. PICSS recorded 88 people kidnapped in incidents linked to militant violence, compared with 72 in September, an increase of 22 percent. This was the highest monthly kidnapping figure recorded during the preceding 12 months. Balochistan accounted for 70 of the 88 kidnappings, representing nearly 80 percent of the nationwide total.
During the first ten months of 2026, PICSS recorded 1,376 militant attacks across Pakistan. Militant attacks and security forces’ actions collectively resulted in 3,902 deaths, including 645 security forces personnel, 65 peace committee members, 595 civilians, and 2,597 militants.
Another 1,953 people were injured during the January–October period, including 639 security forces personnel, 62 peace committee members, 1,055 civilians, and 197 militants.
Compared with the corresponding period of 2025, the number of militant attacks increased by 53 percent, while the combined death toll rose by 36 percent.