Balochistan

The southwestern province of Balochistan witnessed a violent and tumultuous 2025, with attacks, bombings, and armed incidents claiming the lives of at least 284 civilians and 205 security personnel, according to a report by The Balochistan Post (TBP).

Data compiled by security officials indicates that 432 armed incidents were recorded across the province this year, leaving communities gripped by fear and uncertainty. While earlier official reports placed the civilian death toll at 248, TBP’s compilation suggests a higher figure, underscoring the continuing instability in the region.

Major attacks throughout the year included six suicide bombings in Quetta, Mastung, Khuzdar, Turbat, and Nokundi. On March 11, a Baloch pro-independence group hijacked the Jaffer Express train in the Bolan region. February 18 saw seven people killed in Barkhan, while July witnessed separate gunfire attacks targeting passenger coaches near Zhob and Kalat. On May 15, a bus in Khuzdar was attacked, leaving six dead and 43 injured, and a suicide bombing at the Frontier Corps headquarters in Quetta on September 30 killed 12 individuals.

Authorities insist counterinsurgency efforts remained active throughout 2025. Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat and DIG of the Counter Terrorism Department Aitzaz claimed that over 78,000 intelligence-based operations were carried out across the province, resulting in the deaths of 707 members of pro-independence groups.

Despite these measures, security threats remain a pressing concern. Officials acknowledged that 2025 was a challenging year for peace and stability, with ordinary residents continuing to experience insecurity and disruption of daily life.

Public opinion increasingly criticises what many perceive as shortcomings in law enforcement, urging the government to strengthen measures for civilian protection. Local communities and civil society organisations have expressed scepticism over official statistics, suggesting that numerous incidents go unreported and casualties among security personnel may be undercounted, according to TBP.

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The province’s volatile security environment continues to pose challenges to both governance and development, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies to restore long-term stability in Balochistan.