Pakistan claims that it has recorded a significant decrease in the terror attacks since the closure of the Pak-Afghan border. Pakistan had shut down the border with Afghanistan on October 11.
The recent reports issued by Pakistan show that there has been a 17% decline in the terror attacks in December, preceded by a 9% decline in November. Terrorist violence-linked fatalities among civilians and security officials also fell in the last quarter of 2025 by nearly 4% and 19% in each November and December, shows the data collected by the Centre for Research and Security Studies as part of its annual security report for 2025.
With an almost 34% increase in overall violence, the year 2025 was the most violent year for Pakistan in a decade in terms of terror-related fatalities and violence. The country has suffered a sustained escalation in violence for five consecutive years since 2021, coinciding with the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, with almost 30% in 2021, over 15% in 2022, 56% in 2023, nearly 67% in 2024 and 34% in 2025. The comparative data for 2024 and 2025 reveals an escalation in terrorism and counter-terrorism-linked violence across the country.
The fatalities rose from 2,555 in 2024 to 3,417 in 2025, nearly an increase of 862 deaths, or roughly 34% year-on-year surge in violence. Most of the terror-related activities were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the fatalities rose from 1620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, an absolute increase of 711 deaths, accounting for over 82% of the national rise and marking almost a 44% year-on-year surge in violence in the province.
Balochistan also witnessed an increasing trend of fatalities increasing from 787 to 956, an additional 169 deaths, which are nearly 22% higher than the previous corresponding year.
Read more: Afghanistan seeks new trade routes as Pakistan ties sour
Deadly clashes took place between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces on the Spin-Vuldak border that left dozens dead and injured over a hundred as well as destroying Pakistan’s Afghanistan Friendship Gate on October 15 following a deadly terror attack on Pakistan’s armed forces.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries including trade ties remained suspended between Pakistan and Afghanistan in previous months.
