The month of February 2025 experienced a marginal increase in terrorist attacks, but a sharp increase in civilian losses along with a significant increase in the arrest of terrorists across the country, an Islamabad-based Think Tank said in a report on Sunday.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the last month of 79 terrorist attacks, resulting in deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security staff, while 81 security staff and 45 civilians were injured.

“February 2025 marked the first month since August 2024, when civilian deaths exceeded them by security forces,” PICSS said. It added that civilian deaths increased by 175%, while deaths of security personnel declined 18% compared to January 2025.

In January 2025, 20 civilians were killed, while 57 security staff were martyrated. “The security forces intensified their countermilitity operations, eliminated 156 militants, wounded 20 and arrested 66,” Picsss said in a press release.

Terrorist deaths fell by 25%, – 156 in February compared to 208 in January. However, a significant increase in militant arrests was recorded in February, when 66 suspects were detained, the highest monthly figure since 139 rounded in December 2023.

According to the PICSS press release, 50 of the prisoners were arrested from the previously federally managed tribal areas (FATA) region, while 16 others were arrested from Punjab.

Balochistan remained the most unstable province and registered 32 attacks claiming 56 lives, including 35 civilians, 10 security staff and 11 terrorists. The attacks left 44 people injured, including 32 security forces and 12 civilians.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP)-exclusive tribal districts or previously FATA-registered 23 attacks, resulting in deaths of 14 security forces’ staff and 12 civilians, while 22 civilians and an equal number of security staff were injured.