Pakistan records sharp rise in terror attacks in May, with Balochistan hardest hit

Pakistan recorded a sharp rise in militant violence in May, according to a monthly security assessment released on Monday by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. The report said the country saw 128 terrorist attacks during the month, up from 101 in April. It also said Balochistan was the most affected province, with 71 attacks, more than double the 34 recorded in April.

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The assessment said the increase amounted to a 27% rise in attacks month on month. It said 71 civilians, 68 security personnel and six members of peace committees were killed in May, while 147 civilians, 35 security personnel and three peace committee members were injured. The report also said civilian fatalities rose from 37 in April to 71 in May, while deaths among security personnel increased from 28 to 68.

The report highlighted a rise in suicide attacks as part of the broader escalation. It said there were six suicide attacks in May, including four vehicle-borne bombings, compared with one suicide attack in each of March and April. Those attacks killed 34 security personnel and nine civilians, underlining the impact of the shift in tactics.

The report also said kidnappings increased, with 54 abductions reported nationwide in May and 52 of them in Balochistan. The figures point to a worsening security environment in a country that has faced recurring militant violence for years. Balochistan has remained one of Pakistan's most volatile provinces, with attacks there often linked to separatist insurgency, militant activity and broader instability.

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The concentration of attacks and abductions in the province suggests that local security pressures remain severe even as violence also affects other parts of the country. The assessment said security forces intensified counterterrorism operations during the month. It reported that 270 militants were killed and 15 others arrested across Pakistan, including 128 in the erstwhile Fata districts, 62 in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 71 in Balochistan and one in Punjab.

That suggests the state response remained active, but the casualty figures indicate militants were still able to carry out attacks at scale. What remains unclear from the report is whether the May surge reflects a temporary spike or the start of a longer trend. The assessment does not identify individual groups behind each attack, and it is not clear how much of the violence was concentrated in specific districts within Balochistan.

The next monthly security data will show whether the rise in attacks, suicide bombings and kidnappings continues or eases.

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