PAKISTAN'S LONG STRUGGLE TO COUNTER TERRORISM

Despite hurdles, country's approach demonstrates growing sophistication and coherence

- BY ASHFAQ AHMED | Managing Editor

For Pakistan, terrorism is not an abstract threat; it is a lived reality that has shaped the nation's security, governance, and social fabric for over two decades.

The recent press briefing by Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), underscored this reality, presenting 2025 as a “landmark and consequential year” in the country's ongoing fight against militancy. The briefing revealed not only the scale of Pakistan’s efforts but also the complexities and sacrifices inherent in counterterrorism.

The figures alone are sobering. In 2025, Pakistan's security and intelligence agencies conducted over 75,000 intelligence-based operations, averaging more than 200 per day. These operations neutralised nearly 2,600 terrorists, while tragically, over 1,200 civilians and law enforcement personnel lost their lives. More than 5,300 terror incidents occurred nationwide, with the majority concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, areas that have long borne the brunt of militancy.

Dual reality

These statistics highlight the dual reality of Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts. On one hand, operational effectiveness is improving. In 2021, for every terrorist killed, three security personnel were martyred. By 2025, this ratio had reversed to roughly two militants for every casualty, a grim yet telling sign that Pakistan is beginning to regain control over its security environment. On the other hand, the numbers reflect the extraordinary cost of sustained combat, both in human lives and in societal strain.