By Khushal Khan 

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan recorded its highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years in September, with violence escalating across the country as security forces continue operations against militant groups and Islamabad carries out airstrikes against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) targets in neighboring Afghanistan.

According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based independent think tank, Pakistan recorded 225 militant attacks in September, up from 199 in August — a 13% increase and the third consecutive monthly rise.

The attacks killed 259 people and injured 242, compared with 158 deaths and 181 injuries in August. Fatalities from militant attacks therefore increased by 64%, while injuries rose by 34%.

The figures highlight the growing security challenge facing Pakistan despite intensified counterterrorism operations.

- Overall conflict toll

When militant attacks and security-forces-initiated actions are combined, at least 545 people were killed and 261 injured in September, according to PICSS.

Those killed included:

• 346 militants
• 103 security personnel
• 81 civilians
• 15 peace committee members

Among the injured were 118 security personnel, 118 civilians, four peace committee members and 21 militants.

PICSS said the September death toll among security forces was the second-highest in the past 12 months and third-highest in a decade.

The 72 people kidnapped in militant incidents during September were also the highest monthly figure recorded by PICSS in the past decade.

- Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain major flashpoints

Balochistan recorded the largest number of militant attacks, with 131 incidents in September, compared with 89 in August — a 47% increase.

Deaths resulting from militant attacks in the province rose from 76 to 135, while injuries increased from 47 to 63.

Security-force operations in Balochistan killed 171 militants, according to PICSS.

Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, excluding the province's former tribal districts, recorded 58 militant attacks, up from 54 in August. Deaths from militant attacks more than doubled to 90, while injuries jumped from 70 to 165.

The former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, now part of KP, recorded 34 attacks, down from 52 in August. However, security-force operations there killed 68 militants, according to PICSS.

- Pakistan's conflict extends across the Afghan border

The latest violence comes as Pakistan continues to accuse the TTP of using bases and safe havens in Afghanistan to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly called on Afghanistan's Taliban authorities to prevent militant groups from operating from Afghan territory. Kabul has denied allowing Afghan soil to be used against Pakistan and has also objected to Pakistani military operations inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan has carried out ongoing aerial strikes against what it says are TTP and allied militant targets inside Afghanistan, describing the operations as part of its effort to prevent cross-border attacks.

Islamabad has said its strikes are based on intelligence about militant camps and hideouts and has repeatedly framed the operations as necessary for national security. Afghan authorities have disputed Pakistani accounts of some strikes and have raised concerns about civilian casualties.

The cross-border military campaign has added another dimension to Pakistan's already expanding counterterrorism conflict.

- Suicide attacks cause sharp increase in casualties

PICSS recorded three suicide attacks in September, including two vehicle-borne attacks.

The attacks killed 45 people and injured 138, compared with 20 deaths and 31 injuries from three suicide attacks in August.

That represents a 125% increase in deaths and a 345% increase in injuries.

The September suicide-attack death toll was the second-highest monthly figure recorded during the previous 12 months.

- Nine-month toll shows broader escalation

The September figures form part of a much larger increase in violence during 2026.

PICSS recorded 1,232 militant attacks across Pakistan during the first nine months of the year.

Militant attacks and security-force operations during that period resulted in 3,629 deaths, including:

• 2,428 militants
• 591 security personnel
• 550 civilians
• 60 peace committee members

Another 1,882 people were injured, including 1,024 civilians, 610 security personnel, 197 militants and 51 peace committee members.

Compared with the same period of 2025, the number of militant attacks increased by 52%, while the combined death toll from militant attacks and security-force operations rose by 51%, according to PICSS.

- A widening security challenge

The figures indicate that Pakistan is confronting militant violence on several fronts, including attacks by TTP terrorists in KP and attacks by Baloch terrorists in Balochistan.

The situation is further complicated by the deteriorating relationship between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan says the presence of TTP terrorists across the border has become a major national-security threat.

With militant attacks reaching their highest monthly level in 12 years, the September figures underscore the scale of the challenge facing Pakistan's security forces - both inside the country and along its western border with Afghanistan.