Beyond’s the Bombing: The True Cost of Terrorism in Pakistan

By Laraib Ehsan

“A nation does not only lose lives to terrorism it loses opportunities, confidence, and the promise of a peaceful future.”

For over two decades, Pakistan has been at the forefront of the global war on terror. From suicide attacks on crowded marketplaces and educational institutions to the bombing of mosques, military facilities, and public infrastructure; terrorism has had an impact on the social fabric, economy, and politics of this nation. Despite progress achieved by Pakistan through the execution of extensive military and counter-terrorism operations, the revival of militant violence in recent years reminds us that the fight against terrorism requires continued vigilance. The true cost of terrorism is calculated not only in terms of the number of casualties but also in terms of the number of lives ruined, people displaced from their homes, and development hampered.

According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Pakistan has been one of the countries worst affected by terrorism in 2024. The report showed a sharp rise in the number of terrorist attacks and casualties as a result of the increase in militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These two provinces have become the focal point of Pakistan’s current security threats where civilians, law enforcement officials, and government sites are regularly attacked.

According to Security Report of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies 2025, presents equally worrying data. As per the report, 699 cases of terrorism were reported in Pakistan in 2025 leading to 1034 deaths and 1366 injuries occurring across the country.125 out of those killed included 354 civilians, 437 security personnel, and 243 militants.

These statistics show that the phenomenon of terrorism has affected all parts of Pakistan, ranging from ordinary citizens to those responsible for ensuring the security of the state. Among all the provinces, Balochistan has suffered the most. It is rich in natural resources and significant in terms of strategic sites like Gwadar Port.

Balochistan has seen not only attacks on law enforcement agencies, but also attacks on people, industrial workers, logistics, and infrastructure. Such incidents lead to loss of life as well as the reluctance of investors to invest in the region.

A similar situation is happening in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the major part of this region being made up of the merged districts along the border with Afghanistan. According to official statements of the Government of Pakistan and ISPR, the majority of the latest attacks were conducted by Fitna al-Khawarij, which is the official name given to Pakistani authorities to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The authorities have stated that such organizations try to exploit the safe havens they have across the border to carry out attacks on civilians and military personnel.

The Impact caused by terrorism cannot be measured only in figures. Each attack leaves communities sorrowful, resulting in the creation of orphans, damaging lives, and making people unsure in the future. Schools are closed, businesses stop working, and basic health services are absent from such areas.

The recent case Indicates that the threat is present. In 2025 and 2026, Pakistan witnessed multiple occurrences of deadly attacks in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at security convoys, passenger transport systems, and public gatherings. One of the worst attacks was on the Jaffar Express train in Baluchistan as it targeted a passenger train carrying hundreds of civilians. The attack resulted in loss of lives, injuries to passengers, and large-scale rescue operations conducted by the security forces of Pakistan, along with other implications of terrorism, transportation disruptions, and psychological impact on travel.

Despite the challenges facing Pakistan, the response of the country has always been multifaceted. It has employed its intelligence operations to respond to the attacks and adopted innovative methods for border management and coordination of various institutions in civilian and military spheres. Nevertheless, the recurring incidents of terror underline that military effects on terrorism cannot by themselves eliminate terrorism.

Pakistan has made immense sacrifices during the last 20 years, with thousands of civilians dead and armed forces, police, Frontier Corps, and other law enforcement agencies sacrificing their lives for the security of their country.

The strategy adopted by Pakistan against terrorism has changed substantially in the last twenty years. After a series of deadly terrorist incidents in Pakistan, the country implemented a wide-ranging counter terrorism policy consisting of military actions, intelligence sharing, border protection, and legal modifications. These operations, Operation Zarb-e-Azb (2014) and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (2017), destroyed terrorist facilities and disrupted the networks of terrorists working in the country. As stated in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), these operations led to the reduction of many terrorist organizations’ efficiency and helped restore state authority in previously affected territory.

The Pakistan Army, together with the Pakistan Air Force, the Pakistan Navy, the Frontier Corps, the Police, and the intelligence services, has played a key role during the fight against terrorism in Pakistan. Thousands of soldiers and officers have become martyrs while saving civilian lives, defending borders, and conducting different intelligence led operations. Their sacrifices are in addition to the sacrifice made by police officers, rescuers, doctors, and ordinary people and represent one of the most significant contributions of Pakistan to the fight against terrorism in the world.

Although military methods have diminished the power of terrorist organizations, specialists claim that it is not possible to defeat terrorism only by military efforts. As specified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), one of the most efficient means of fighting against terrorists is to stop their financing. Even though Pakistan has enhanced its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system in recent years, it is necessary to keep on practicing this idea and cooperating with other countries in order to avoid the rebirth of terrorist organizations.

The economic Impact of terrorism is equally dangerous. The Pakistan Economic Surveys show that since 2001 terrorism has caused Pakistan direct and indirect economic damages of more than $150 billion. Namely, these damages include destroyed infrastructure, decreased foreign investments, reduced number of tourists, increased costs of security, and lagging in economy. The money that could have been allocated for such important things as education and health care was used for fighting terrorism instead.

However, the long term solution cannot be achieved through military success. It is necessary to adopt the National Action Plan (NAP), to reform the criminal justice system, to control the borders, to provide quality education, to engage youth into the peace process, and to oppose extremist ideologies.

The problem of terrorism has taught Pakistan that it is not only a security issue but also a hindrance to national development, social unity, and democracy. Each terrorist attack causes a loss of trust among the public, destroys means of living, and slows down the development of the country. That is why for protecting Pakistan not only strong security institutions are needed but also inclusive governance, economic opportunities, and public unity against extremism. The anti-terrorism campaign is far from over and the same can be said about Pakistan’s determination to overcome it. The bravery of the country’s Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, and civil society has shown that terrorism can be fought through sacrifice, professionalism, and unity of nation. As terrorist groups keep changing the methods of conducting terroristic acts, Pakistan has to continue strengthening its institutions.

Author:

My name is Laraib Ehsan and  I am a student of International Relations at Fatima Jinnah Woman University Rawalpindi.