Peace Slips as Operations Expand in 2025

Rahim Ullah

Islamabad: Pakistan’s military operations in 2025 have left a deep mark on the country’s security and social fabric. As we approach December and look toward 2026, the grievances of civilians in conflict zones remain unresolved.

The year 2025 has been one of the deadliest in recent memory. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), August 2025 alone saw 143 militant attacks that killed 194 people and injured 231, making it the bloodiest month in over a decade.

These attacks were primarily concentrated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, but violence also spread to Sindh, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In response, security forces carried out 41 counterterrorism operations, killing at least 100 militants and arresting 31. Yet civilians caught in the crossfire paid the highest price (PICSS Monthly Security Report, August 2025).

The collateral damage of these operations is not limited to fatalities. Entire families have been displaced, homes partially or completely destroyed, and livelihoods lost. Camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) often lack basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and sanitation, leaving communities vulnerable and frustrated.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/india-bars-baku-pakistan-backs-yerevan/

Many residents and IDPs feel abandoned, as compensation and rehabilitation programs remain virtually non-existent. This neglect has fueled resentment and, in some cases, radicalization among those who once lived peacefully in their homes. 

Analysts have repeatedly warned that trauma from repeated operations has transformed civilians into radicals and militants, perpetuating cycles of violence rather than ending them (CRSS Annual Report, 2024).

Economic losses in 2025 have been staggering. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, cross-border clashes escalated along the Line of Control (LOC) in May. 

Reports estimated that the confrontation cost Pakistan nearly $1 billion per hour of combat, straining an already fragile economy. Local businesses collapsed, and farmers in border regions saw their crops destroyed or abandoned.

For communities dependent on agriculture and small-scale trading, the loss of income has been devastating. This economic deprivation has further compounded grievances, leaving many families without sustainable livelihoods and increasing susceptibility to militant recruitment.

The basic rights and safety of civilians remain overshadowed by military imperatives. International humanitarian law demands the protection of non-combatants, yet locals often find themselves trapped between militants and the military.

Women and children are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks in disrupted social structures. Moreover, the absence of transparent compensation systems further compounds these grievances. Families who lose loved ones or property rarely receive adequate support, leaving them marginalized and voiceless. 

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/climate-disasters-are-here-are-we/

Ensuring the rights and safety of civilians is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity to prevent radicalization.

As 2025 closes, emerging statistics and reports make it clear that Pakistan’s fight against militancy cannot succeed without prioritizing the concerns of its citizens.

The collateral damage, displacement, and economic deprivation faced by locals must be addressed urgently. Sustainable peace requires more than eliminating militants; it demands rebuilding trust with local populations. 

Protecting rights, ensuring safety, and addressing economic concerns are crucial to prevent radicalization and foster stability. Without transparent compensation, rehabilitation, and investment in local economies, Pakistan risks prolonging instability.

Moving into 2026, Pakistan faces a critical choice: continue relying on military operations that achieve tactical victories but alienate civilians, or shift toward policies that prioritize human security alongside national security. 

Lessons from 2024 and 2025, documented by organizations such as PICSS and CRSS, show that ignoring civilian grievances undermines the objectives of military campaigns.

If Pakistan is to break the cycle of violence, it must safeguard civilian rights, invest in development, and rebuild trust with its people. Only then can the country move toward lasting peace and stability.

Rahim Ullah Tajik is an MPhil scholar in IR at the National Defence University, Islamabad, with research interests in contemporary global and regional security dynamics. He can be reached at rahimullah15303@gmail.com.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.