Terrorism’s dangerous momentum

EDITORIAL: Pakistan recorded 128 terrorist attacks in May, up 27 percent from April, while civilian deaths rose by 92 percent and security personnel fatalities by 143 percent, according to the latest assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. After two months of relative improvement, the figures serve as a stark reminder that the country’s security challenge remains far from resolved and that militant groups retain the capacity to regroup, adapt and strike with deadly effect. Particularly alarming is the return of suicide attacks as a preferred tactic. Six such attacks were recorded in May, including four vehicle-borne bombings, compared with just one in each of the previous two months. Pakistan has paid an enormous price for this form of violence over the past two decades. Entire communities, markets, mosques, schools, and security installations have been targeted by militants seeking to spread fear and undermine the authority of the state. Any increase in the frequency of suicide attacks therefore deserves immediate attention. The concentration of violence in Balochistan is equally troubling. The province accounted for 71 attacks during the month, more than double the number recorded in April. The sharp rise in kidnappings, with 52 of the 54 reported abductions nationwide occurring in Balochistan, points to a deteriorating security environment and a growing confidence among militant networks operating in the area. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to face similar pressures as well, demonstrating that the country’s two most vulnerable regions remain under sustained threat. It is important to recognise that security forces have not been passive in the face of these challenges. According to the same report, 270 militants were killed and 15 arrested during counter-terrorism operations conducted across the country. These figures reflect an aggressive operational response and underscore the sacrifices being made by security personnel on a daily basis. Yet the persistence of attacks despite these efforts suggests that the threat has evolved into something more complex than a purely military problem. Pakistan’s security agencies have repeatedly pointed to external sponsorship and facilitation of terrorism directed against the country. Successive official statements have accused hostile intelligence networks of financing, training and supporting militant groups operating within Pakistan’s borders. These allegations have become a recurring feature of the country’s security discourse, particularly in relation to violence in Balochistan and along the western frontier. Whether viewed through the lens of regional geopolitics or internal security, the broader conclusion remains the same: the operating environment facing Pakistan has become more complicated. Militant organisations are no longer isolated actors functioning independently. They increasingly exploit regional instability, digital communications, cross-border networks and external sources of support to sustain their campaigns. That reality requires a response that is equally comprehensive. Military operations remain indispensable, but lasting success also depends on intelligence coordination, border management, financial surveillance and the disruption of recruitment pipelines. Local communities must be protected from intimidation, while development efforts in conflict-affected regions need to continue despite the security risks. The objective must be to deny militant groups both physical space and social space in which to operate. The timing of this escalation is particularly concerning. Pakistan is navigating a difficult economic environment while simultaneously seeking to attract investment and strengthen regional connectivity. Persistent violence threatens both objectives. Investors and development partners inevitably take note when security indicators begin moving in the wrong direction. Also, the country has seen before where complacency can lead. Years of sustained counterterrorism efforts succeeded in reducing violence from its peak levels, but those gains were never guaranteed to be permanent. The latest figures demonstrate that militant networks remain determined to challenge the state whenever opportunities emerge. The lesson from May is therefore clear. Vigilance cannot be episodic. Pakistan’s enemies, whether domestic or external, continue to exploit every opening available to them. The state’s response must remain equally determined, because the costs of allowing terrorism to regain momentum are already well known to a nation that has paid for peace with far too much blood. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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