Violence-linked deaths surge 83pc

• Balochistan accounts for nearly 59pc of total fatalities in third quarter of 2026
• CRSS records 1,415 deaths, 558 injuries across 385 incidents
• TTP becomes deadliest group, inflicting 117 deaths

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recor­ded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, re­­versing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters as terrorism and counter-terrorism deaths surged nationwide.

The escalation, according to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), was largely driven by Balochistan, where fatalities more than tripled and the province accounted for nea­­rly 88pc of the national increase.

The southwestern province overtook Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the country’s worst-hit region in both violence-related deaths and recorded incidents.

The CRSS report recorded at least 1,415 violence-linked fatalities and 558 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws during Q3 2026, across 385 incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations.

Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59pc of the national total, while KP reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39pc.

Balochistan also witnessed the highest number of violent incidents, with 186 cases, representing more than 48pc of all incidents recorded in the quarter. KP followed closely with 173 incidents, or nearly 45pc of the total.

However, KP suffered the highest number of injuries, with 376 cases, while Balochistan recorded 163 injuries.

The report said the surge from Q2 to Q3 marked the highest escalation in violence since 2021, ending the declining quarter-on-qua­rter trend observed during the first and second quarters of 2026.

The increase was primarily lin­ked to Balochistan, where fatalities jumped 213pc compared with the previous quarter, rising from 265 deaths in Q2 to 829 in Q3. KP also recorded a rise in violence, with fatalities increasing by more than 17pc, from 475 to 556.

Outlaws accounted for the majority of deaths, with 921 fatalities, or more than 65pc of the total, following nearly 154 security operations. Their deaths more than doubled, increasing by 103pc from 453 in Q2 to 921 in Q3.

However, the rise was not limited to militant fatalities. Civilian deaths increased by nearly 36pc, from 187 to 254, while security personnel fatalities rose by more than 79pc, from 134 to 240. Combined civilian and security personnel deaths climbed by nearly 54pc, reaching 494.

Among groups claiming resp­o­nsibility for attacks, the TTP emerged as the deadliest in Q3 2026, with 13 claimed attacks causing 117 deaths and 65 injuries.

The BLA claimed five attacks that killed 34 people and injured 42, while HGB-IUM claimed three attacks that caused 27 fatalities and 129 injuries, the highest injury toll among the listed groups.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026