Pakistan Recorded 1,139 Deaths From Internal Conflict in 2025, Report Shows

Pakistan is facing a prolonged internal security crisis driven by militant violence, separatist movements, economic inequality and long-standing political grievances across several regions. According to figures cited in an April 2026 report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the country recorded 1,045 incidents and 1,139 deaths in 2025, its highest fatality level in more than a decade. Much of the violence has been concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militant groups have intensified attacks on security personnel, infrastructure and civilians.

A major factor behind the unrest is the resurgence of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, an alliance of militant groups formed in 2007 that has emerged as one of the country’s most serious security threats. The group, which is separate from the Afghan Taliban, seeks to challenge the Pakistani state and impose its interpretation of Islamic law. Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has increased sharply since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021, while other armed groups, including Islamic State Khorasan Province, have also remained active in the region.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, is at the centre of the country’s oldest separatist conflict, with roots stretching back to 1948. Despite possessing major reserves of natural gas, coal, copper and gold, the province continues to face widespread poverty and allegations of unequal resource distribution. Separatist groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, have accused the federal government of exploiting local resources while excluding residents from economic and political benefits. These grievances have contributed to repeated attacks on security forces, infrastructure projects and interests linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

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Economic and political tensions have also affected Sindh, where water shortages have become a major source of friction with the federal government and upstream Punjab. Agriculture remains central to Sindh’s rural economy, but the province faces severe pressure from water scarcity, ageing irrigation infrastructure, saline groundwater and rising temperatures. Controversy over proposed canal projects triggered large protests amid fears that additional water would be diverted away from Sindh. Although the disputed project was later put on hold, the confrontation exposed deeper concerns over provincial rights, resource sharing and political influence.

In the north, Gilgit-Baltistan faces a different set of grievances linked to its constitutional status, political representation and control over natural resources. The region has no direct representation in Pakistan’s parliament despite its strategic location and significant hydropower and mineral potential. Protests have emerged over unemployment, power shortages, land disputes, mining leases and major infrastructure projects. Critics argue that local communities receive limited benefits from development projects while decisions affecting land and resources are often made without sufficient participation from residents.

The broader crisis has been worsened by allegations of enforced disappearances and heavy-handed security responses, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Activists and human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over people allegedly going missing after speaking against state policies or resource exploitation. Pakistan’s internal instability reflects a complex combination of militancy, separatism, poverty, political exclusion and disputes over resources. Without greater political inclusion, economic fairness, provincial autonomy and stronger protection of human rights, the country’s long-running internal conflicts are likely to remain a major challenge.

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