In April 2026, Pakistan experienced a notable improvement in security as militant attacks and related casualties decreased significantly, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The think tank reported that the number of verified militant attacks in April dropped to 85 from 146 in March, marking a 42% reduction. Fatalities from these attacks also decreased from 106 to 60.
This positive trend has been attributed to Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against militant groups and Taliban positions, conducted between February 26 and March 18, which led to a suspension of hostilities and subsequent talks in Urumqi, China. The operation, named Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, was launched in response to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban across the border.
Despite the decline in attacks, the total number of combat-related deaths, including those from militant violence and security operations, was 291 in April. Of these, militants accounted for 224 deaths, representing 77% of the total. The remaining casualties included 28 security personnel, 37 civilians, and two members of pro-government peace committees.
Losses among security forces saw a significant drop from 59 in March to 28 in April, a 53% decrease, while civilian fatalities remained relatively stable, falling slightly from 39 to 37. The report also noted a marked reduction in injuries, with overall injuries decreasing from 210 in March to 131 in April, a 38% decline. Civilian injuries fell from 98 to 54, and militant injuries dropped from 57 to 31.
Regionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the most affected province, followed by Balochistan. In mainland K-P, attacks slightly declined from 51 in March to 45 in April, while fatalities remained unchanged at 34. The tribal districts of K-P saw the most significant improvement, with attacks dropping by 40% from 35 to 21, and deaths sharply falling by 82% to just six.
Security forces intensified operations in these areas, killing 120 militants in April, up from 24 in March, accounting for more than half of all militant deaths nationwide during the month. This strategic focus on high-impact areas has been crucial in reducing the overall threat level, although challenges remain as isolated high-impact events continue to occur.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, May 3, 2026
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