Violence-linked deaths surge 83pc

• Balochistan accounts for nearly 59pc of total fatalities in third quarter of 2026 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recor­ded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, re­­versing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters as terrorism and counter-terrorism deaths surged nationwide. The escalation, according to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), was largely driven by Balochistan, where fatalities more than tripled and the province accounted for nea­­rly 88pc of the national increase. The southwestern province overtook Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the country’s worst-hit region in both violence-related deaths and recorded incidents. The CRSS report recorded at least 1,415 violence-linked fatalities and 558 injuries among civilians, security personnel and outlaws during Q3 2026, across 385 incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59pc of the national total, while KP reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39pc. Balochistan also witnessed the highest number of violent incidents, with 186 cases, representing more than 48pc of all incidents recorded in the quarter. KP followed closely with 173 incidents, or nearly 45pc of the total. However, KP suffered the highest number of injuries, with 376 cases, while Balochistan recorded 163 injuries. The report said the surge from Q2 to Q3 marked the highest escalation in violence since 2021, ending the declining quarter-on-qua­rter trend observed during the first and second quarters of 2026. The increase was primarily lin­ked to Balochistan, where fatalities jumped 213pc compared with the previous quarter, rising from 265 deaths in Q2 to 829 in Q3. KP also recorded a rise in violence, with fatalities increasing by more than 17pc, from 475 to 556. Outla