Combat-related fatalities in Pakistan increased by 30 percent in February 2026, driven by a sharp rise in suicide bombings and intensified militant violence, according to monthly data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
The Islamabad-based think tank reported a total of 470 deaths and 333 injuries during the month. Among the fatalities were 80 security forces personnel, 294 militants, and 96 civilians. The injured included 50 members of the security forces, 24 militants, and 259 civilians.
According to PICSS, the data reflects a 74 percent increase in security forces fatalities compared to the previous month, alongside a 21 percent rise in militant deaths and a 32 percent increase in civilian fatalities. The organization described the figures as indicative of a deteriorating security environment, particularly in regions experiencing intensified militant activity.
While violence escalated nationally, trends varied by province. In Balochistan, militant attacks reportedly declined following the launch of security forces’ retaliatory operation Raddul Fitna-1 at the beginning of February. PICSS reported that 176 militants were killed in operations in the province during the month, contributing to a reduction in insurgent-initiated attacks there.
In contrast, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its newly merged districts (formerly the Federally Administered Tribal Areas) witnessed a significant escalation. The province recorded the deaths of 53 security forces personnel and six civilians. Additionally, 35 security forces personnel and 48 civilians were injured during the reporting period. The region experienced three suicide bombings, resulting in 17 fatalities including 14 security personnel and injuries to 20 civilians.
The uptick in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa contributed to heightened cross-border tensions, including Pakistan’s air strikes and subsequent military clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan frontier.
Elsewhere, the month saw a major suicide bombing in the outskirts of Islamabad Capital Territory that killed at least 34 people and injured 165 others. Another suicide attack in Bhakkar district of Punjab left two police personnel dead and four injured. In total, five suicide bombings were recorded nationwide in February two more than in January 2026.
PICSS noted that eight suicide attacks have occurred in the first two months of 2026, representing nearly half the total number recorded in all of 2025, when 17 such attacks including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were documented. The trend suggests a resurgence in suicide bombing tactics after a relative decline in previous years.
Security forces also arrested a would-be suicide bomber during the month, preventing what authorities described as a potentially high-casualty attack.
Cumulatively, the first two months of 2026 have witnessed 831 combat-related deaths, including 169 civilians, 126 security forces personnel, and 536 militants, according to PICSS data. Analysts warn that the trajectory of violence, particularly the increasing frequency of suicide attacks, underscores mounting security challenges as the year progresses.
PICSS stated that continued monitoring and coordinated counterterrorism efforts will be critical to containing the evolving threat landscape.
