By Junaid Qaiser
October marked a turning point in Pakistan’s long and difficult battle against militancy. According to new figures from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), security forces eliminated 355 militants — the highest number in a single month in a decade. This sharp surge in counterterror operations reflects not only improved intelligence and coordination but also a renewed national resolve under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir to root out extremism once and for all.
For years, militants operating from the country’s western borderlands have tested Pakistan’s patience. Now, that patience has run out. The state has declared that it will pursue all elements threatening its internal peace — no matter where they hide or who supports them. The message is clear: Pakistan will not allow its future to be dictated by those who trade in fear and chaos.
The most intense operations in recent months have taken place across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the two provinces most affected by cross-border militancy. Islamabad maintains that these groups launch attacks from Afghan soil, a claim supported by repeated incidents along the frontier. October also witnessed some of the most serious border clashes in years, prompting diplomatic engagement mediated by Türkiye and Qatar. Pakistan’s position in these talks remains firm — the Taliban must take verifiable action against anti-Pakistan elements or face the consequences.
The PICSS report offers a detailed look at the evolving landscape of the conflict. In total, 458 people were killed last month, including 72 members of the security forces and 30 civilians. Another 162 were injured. While these numbers reflect the human cost of continued violence, they also point to a new dynamic — militant networks are being dismantled faster than they can recover. The killing of Qari Amjad, the former deputy emir of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stands as a major symbolic and strategic blow to the insurgency.
In Balochistan, 67 militants were killed — the highest figure since 2002 — while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, operations accounted for more than 200 militant deaths. The figures reveal a pattern: Pakistan’s security forces are no longer reacting to violence; they are pre-empting it. Civilian casualties have dropped by more than 90 percent in some regions, a sign of precision, restraint, and better local cooperation.
This shift is not merely military. It is political, institutional, and ideological. Under Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership, Pakistan’s security apparatus has aligned behind a broader vision — one that seeks not just to eliminate terrorism but to reshape the country’s social and strategic direction. From internal policing to diplomatic engagement, the focus is on establishing a stable environment where extremism finds no space to grow.
The government’s renewed coordination with international partners also signals a pragmatic shift. Islamabad is engaging regional actors, especially in the Muslim world, to ensure that border management and counter-radicalization become shared priorities. At home, efforts to regulate madrassas, monitor foreign funding, and reintegrate vulnerable youth populations are key components of the long-term plan to secure internal peace.
Pakistan’s firm response to recent statements from the Afghan Taliban underscores this unity of purpose. Islamabad has categorically rejected Kabul’s attempts to twist facts about recent bilateral talks, reiterating that Pakistan’s sole demand is clear: act decisively against groups using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. Both the civilian leadership and the military command stand united on this front, as Defense Minister Khawaja Asif reaffirmed in his recent statement, stressing that national security and regional peace are shared, indivisible goals.
The fight against militancy, therefore, is no longer an open-ended struggle. It is part of a larger national transformation — to build a Pakistan that is secure, moderate, and forward-looking. The security forces’ success in October is more than a tactical achievement; it is a reflection of a new national mindset that rejects extremism and embraces reform.
For too long, militancy has defined Pakistan’s image to the world. Today, the state is determined to reverse that narrative — not just through force, but through clarity of vision and purpose. The fight continues, but for the first time in years, it is Pakistan that has the upper hand.
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