March sees 35pc drop in combat-related fatalities amid cross-border operation: PICSS

• Civilian fatalities see 70pc drop; security forces’ casualties also fall by 26pc
• Increased militant attacks, decreased lethality with single suicide bombing

ISLAMABAD: A significant reduction of 35 per cent in combat-related fatalities was recorded across Pakistan during the month of March, coinciding with Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, according to monthly statistics released by a think tank.

Data released by Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed that a total of 331 people were killed in March compared to 506 in February, marking a 35pc decline in overall combat-related deaths.

PICSS also observed a decline in high-profile militant attacks, even as the overall number of attacks increased during the month.

It noted that the reduction in human losses coincided with Pakistan’s cross-border military strikes under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which began in the last week of February and targeted terrorist positions in Afghanistan.

“The timing suggests these operations may have contributed to disrupting militant capacity and reducing the lethality of attacks,” the report noted.

It added that in response to these strikes, groups including Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan (TTP), Jamaatul Ahrar, and Ittihadul Mujahideen — an umbrella alliance comprising Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-i-Islam, and Inquilab-i-Islami Pakistan — announced an escalation in attacks against Pakistan.

“Despite this surge in militant activity, the overall impact remained comparatively limited, as reflected in the sharp decline in casualties,” PICSS stated.

Data collected by PICSS showed that civilian fatalities dropped sharply from 132 in February to 39 in March, reflecting a 70pc decrease.

Security forces’ fatalities declined from 80 to 59, a 26pc reduction, while militant deaths also fell from 294 to 228, representing a 22pc decline.

PICSS further reported a 37pc decrease in overall injuries, with 210 people injured in March compared to 333 in February. Injuries among security personnel slightly declined from 50 to 48.

At the same time, militant injuries rose significantly from 24 to 57, marking a 138pc increase.

“Civilian injuries saw the most notable improvement, dropping from 259 to 98, a 62pc decrease,” the think tank pointed out.

PICSS recorded 146 militant attacks in March compared to 83 in February. Suicide attacks dropped from five in February to just one in March.

During the month, security forces arrested 41 suspected militants, while militants kidnapped 19 individuals.

Province-wise breakdown

Providing a province-wise breakdown, PICSS reported 189 combat-related deaths in Balochistan in March, down from 285 in February, a 34pc decline.

Civilian deaths fell sharply from 82 to 17, a 79pc drop. Militant deaths decreased from 176 to 145, while security force fatalities remained at 27.

Injuries rose across all groups: security personnel from four to 19, militants from zero to 47 and civilians from 12 to 19. Militants kidnapped eight people, and security forces arrested 26 suspects.

In the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fatalities dropped to 55 in March from 95 in February, a 42pc decline.

Security force deaths fell from 23 to 16, and militant deaths from 62 to 24, while civilian deaths rose from 10 to 13.

Injuries surged from 33 to 92, including increases among security personnel from four to 15, militant injuries from three to eight, and civilian injuries from 26 to 69.

In mainland KP, deaths were largely unchanged at 83 in March, compared with 81 in February. Security force fatalities declined from 27 to 16, civilian deaths rose from six to nine, and militant deaths increased from 48 to 55. Injuries dropped sharply from 104 to 33 across all groups.

Punjab reported no militant attacks in March, though security forces killed four militants.

In Feb, three militants and two security personnel were killed, and five others were injured. No injuries were reported in March.

Sindh also reported no militant attacks, though eight suspects were arrested. In February, four militants were killed and one arrested.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, security forces thwarted an attempted attack on a check post near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, with no casualties.

The report said Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorism-related deaths for the sixth consecutive year, despite a slight decline in total attacks in 2025.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026