By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa endured a relentless wave of militant violence in 2025, as terrorist attacks swept across the province, leaving a heavy toll on civilians and security forces alike. The report recorded 1,588 terrorist incidents during the year, resulting in 502 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Civilians were the worst affected, with 223 killed and 570 wounded in attacks across the province.
Security forces also suffered significant losses. The CTD said 137 police officers were killed and 236 injured, while the Federal Constabulary reported 124 fatalities and 244 injuries. A further 18 personnel from other law enforcement agencies were killed during counter-terrorism operations.
The report said security forces carried out extensive operations against militant networks, including intelligence-based raids. During these operations, 348 militants were killed, dealing what the CTD described as a major blow to the operational capacity of terrorist groups.
Regionally, Bannu division emerged as the most affected area, with 394 incidents reported. These attacks killed 54 civilians and 41 police officers, while injuring 125 civilians and 89 police personnel. In Dera Ismail Khan, 152 incidents were recorded, during which security forces killed 137 militants.
North Waziristan and South Waziristan also witnessed sustained violence, with 181 and 103 incidents respectively. North Waziristan recorded 38 civilian deaths and 182 injuries, while South Waziristan saw 39 civilians killed and 86 injured.
Despite the spike in attacks, the CTD said timely and coordinated actions by security forces had inflicted heavy losses on militant groups. The department reaffirmed that state institutions would continue efforts to prevent anti-peace elements from destabilizing the province.
The report said that while 2025 had once again brought grief to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the sacrifices of police, security forces and other agencies underlined the continuing fight against terrorism. It stressed that a comprehensive strategy, stronger intelligence systems, effective border monitoring and public cooperation were essential to permanently eliminate militancy and restore lasting peace in the province.
