PESHAWAR, OCTOBER 02, 2026 : Pakistan recorded a sharp increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, with deaths rising 83% compared with the previous quarter, according to a security report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The CRSS recorded 1,415 violence-linked deaths and 558 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws across 385 incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations between July and September 2026. The increase reversed the decline recorded during the first two quarters and represented the highest quarter-on-quarter escalation recorded by CRSS since 2021. Crss
Balochistan Emerges as the Worst-Affected Province
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained the main centres of violence, together accounting for approximately 98% of all violence-linked fatalities during the quarter.
Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59% of the national total, while KP recorded 556 deaths, representing more than 39%. Crss
The increase in Balochistan was particularly pronounced. Fatalities there rose from 265 in Q2 to 829 in Q3, an increase of approximately 213%. CRSS said the province accounted for nearly 88% of the overall national increase.
KP fatalities also increased, rising from 475 to 556, or more than 17%. Crss
Incidents and Injuries
Balochistan recorded 186 violent incidents, accounting for more than 48% of the national total, while KP registered 173 incidents, nearly 45%.
KP recorded the larger number of injuries, with 376, compared with 163 in Balochistan. Crss
The figures show that the two provinces experienced different casualty patterns: Balochistan recorded the larger number of deaths, while KP recorded substantially more injuries.
Outlaws Accounted for Most Fatalities
According to CRSS, 921 outlaws were killed during the quarter, representing more than 65% of all recorded fatalities, following nearly 154 security operations.
Deaths among civilians and security personnel also increased. Civilian fatalities rose from 187 to 254, an increase of nearly 36%, while security personnel deaths increased from 134 to 240, or more than 79%. Crss
Combined civilian and security personnel fatalities therefore reached 494, compared with 321 in the previous quarter.
TTP Recorded Highest Fatalities Among Groups Claiming Attacks
Among organisations that claimed responsibility for attacks during the quarter, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) recorded the highest number of fatalities in its claimed attacks.
CRSS said 13 TTP-claimed attacks resulted in 117 deaths and 65 injuries.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed five attacks that resulted in 34 deaths and 42 injuries, while the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group claimed three attacks resulting in 27 deaths and 129 injuries. Crss
These figures concern attacks for which responsibility was claimed and should not be interpreted as representing the full extent of violence involving these organisations.
Sharp Reversal From the First Half of 2026
The latest figures mark a significant change from the first half of the year. CRSS recorded 813 fatalities in Q1 and 774 in Q2, before the total climbed to 1,415 in Q3. Crss
The Q3 increase was driven particularly by Balochistan, while KP also experienced a further rise in fatalities.
The CRSS report said the quarter’s increase represented the largest quarter-on-quarter escalation since 2021 in its dataset. Crss
Key Figures — Q3 2026
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Violence-linked fatalities | 1,415 |
| Injuries | 558 |
| Recorded incidents | 385 |
| Quarter-on-quarter increase | 83% |
| Balochistan fatalities | 829 |
| KP fatalities | 556 |
| Outlaw fatalities | 921 |
| Civilian fatalities | 254 |
| Security personnel fatalities | 240 |
Source: Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Q3 2026 Security Report. Crss
