Pakistan sees surge in terrorist attacks as security concerns mount

Pakistan is witnessing a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, with militant groups targeting security forces, infrastructure, and economic stability, according to journalist Kamran Khan.

Khan cited data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal and the Global Terrorism Index, revealing that 80 terrorist incidents occurred in the country between January and March 17, 2025.

The situation has worsened in recent days. Khan said that in the last 72 hours alone, banned militant groups the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out 57 attacks, employing sniper fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and suicide bombings.

Amid this growing threat, the National Security Committee convened, bringing together Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, and other key military and political figures. However, Khan noted that while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur attended, members of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were absent.

"Regardless of political differences, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership must stand on one platform to send a strong message to the enemy," Khan said, warning that national disunity could weaken the fight against terrorism.

Deadly incidents raise alarm

Among the most significant recent attacks was the hijacking of the Jaffer Express in Balochistan on March 11. Militants killed 26 passengers, 18 of whom were security personnel, before Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) commandos eliminated all 33 attackers.

Just days later, on March 16, a suicide bombing targeted a Frontier Corps convoy in Nushki, killing five people, including three soldiers, and injuring 32. The BLA claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Khan said that security forces responded with counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, launching crackdowns on suicide bomber networks in Peshawar, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan, and Tank. Authorities imposed curfews in parts of Tank and South Waziristan starting March 17.

Pakistan’s military has accused India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), of backing separatist militants in Balochistan. The country is also grappling with increasing TTP and Islamic State activity, raising concerns over a broader regional security crisis.

Afghanistan connection and US weapons

According to Khan, many of these terrorists operate with direct support from handlers in Afghanistan. The Pakistani government had expected improved border security following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, but that has not materialized.

A report by Foreign Policy magazine highlighted that militants attacking Pakistani security forces are using U.S.-supplied weapons, including night vision goggles and thermal-scoped rifles, which were left behind after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. The report suggested that the Taliban may be selling these weapons to terrorist groups.

Pakistan ranks second in global terrorism index

Pakistan’s security situation has deteriorated to the extent that it now ranks as the second-most terrorism-affected country in the world, according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index.

The report states that there has been a 45% increase in terror-related incidents, with 1,081 fatalities recorded last year. An overwhelming 96% of these attacks occurred in Pakistan’s western border regions.

February alone saw several high-profile attacks, including a suicide bombing at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which killed seven people, including religious scholar Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq. Earlier, on Feb. 14, an IED explosion in Harnai, Balochistan, targeted a vehicle carrying miners, killing 11.

The need for a united front

Khan emphasized that counterterrorism efforts cannot rely solely on military operations. He pointed out that in 2024, Pakistan’s security forces conducted 59,775 intelligence-based operations, eliminating 1,200 terrorists while losing 563 personnel. Despite these efforts, he said, terrorism persists due to a lack of a unified national strategy.

"The fight against terrorism is not just a security issue—it has political, economic, and social dimensions," he said, calling for national reconciliation.

Khan warned that excluding the PTI from national security discussions could deepen political divisions and weaken the country’s counterterrorism narrative. He stressed that the PTI, with its vast public support, especially among the youth, must be part of any anti-terror strategy.

"The timing of this surge in attacks is critical," he said. "Just as Pakistan is moving toward economic stability, our enemies are trying to destabilize us."

Khan urged all stakeholders to set aside political differences and adopt a unified agenda against terrorism. He also cautioned that Pakistan is facing a new kind of warfare—digital misinformation campaigns designed to spread hatred, despair, and division among its youth.

"The 250 million people of Pakistan must stand with their armed forces. National unity is the only way to defeat terrorism," he concluded.