Pakistan has concluded the year 2025 as its most violent in the past ten years, according to recent data. This alarming milestone comes despite a noted reduction in terror attacks following the closure of its border with Afghanistan.
A Contradictory Security Landscape
The data, compiled by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), reveals a complex and troubling picture. While specific terror incidents originating from across the Afghan border saw a decline after the frontier was sealed, the overall level of violence across Pakistan surged by almost 34 per cent. This significant increase in widespread conflict and instability made 2025 the deadliest year for the country in a decade.
Border Closure and Its Limited Impact
The decision to close the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was a major policy move aimed at curbing cross-border militant infiltration and terrorist activities. Initial reports suggested this measure led to a decrease in terror attacks linked to groups operating from Afghan soil. However, the CRSS annual report indicates that this tactical success was overshadowed by a massive wave of violence erupting from other sources within the nation.
The statistics point to a shift in the nature of threats. The vacuum or the redirected focus of militant energies, combined with domestic political tensions, ethnic strife, and criminal violence, appears to have contributed heavily to the grim annual tally.
Analysis of a Deadly Year
The findings for 2025 present a critical challenge for Pakistan's security establishment. It suggests that while securing one frontier may address a specific threat vector, it does not automatically translate into national peace. The 34 per cent surge in overall violence underscores deep-rooted internal security issues that require comprehensive strategies beyond border management.
Experts analysing the CRSS data warn that the situation highlights the multifaceted nature of the security crisis. The country is grappling not just with transnational terrorism but also with intense internal conflicts that claim more lives and create widespread fear.
The report, finalized and released on January 1, 2026, serves as a sobering year-beginning assessment for policymakers. It clearly states that the reduction in cross-border terror attacks was a single data point in an otherwise devastatingly violent year, marking 2025 as a period of severe national turmoil.
