Category: National

Combat-related fatalities across Pakistan rose by 30 percent in February 2026, primarily due to a sharp spike in suicide bombings, according to monthly data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The Islamabad-based think tank recorded 470 deaths and 333 injuries during the month. Those killed included 96 civilians, 80 security personnel and 294 militants. Among the injured were 259 civilians, 50 members of the security forces and 24 militants.

Compared to January, fatalities among security forces personnel increased by 74 percent, civilian deaths rose by 32 percent, and militant deaths climbed by 21 percent, the report said.

Violence intensified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its merged tribal districts (formerly FATA), where 53 security personnel and six civilians were killed. 

An additional 35 security personnel and 48 civilians were injured in the province. Three suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone killed 17 people  including 14 security personnel  and wounded 20 civilians.

PICSS linked the escalation in attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to subsequent cross-border air strikes by Pakistan and ensuing military clashes with Afghanistan.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) also witnessed a major attack. A suicide bombing in its suburban area killed at least 34 people and injured 165 others. In Punjab’s Bhakkar district, another suicide attack claimed the lives of two police personnel and left four others injured.

The eight suicide bombings recorded in the first two months of 2026 account for nearly half of the 17 incidents reported throughout 2025. The report described the pattern as “a dangerous trend of rising suicide bombings.” 

Security forces also apprehended a would-be suicide attacker during the month.

In contrast, Balochistan experienced a decline in militant activity following the launch of a retaliatory operation, “Raddul Fitna-1,” earlier in February. According to PICSS data, security operations in the province resulted in the deaths of 176 militants.

Cumulatively, PICSS statistics for January and February 2026 indicate 831 combat-related deaths nationwide, comprising 536 militants, 169 civilians and 126 security personnel.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has provided an update on “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” stating that Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes have resulted in the deaths of 415 Afghan Taliban members over several days.

Briefing the media on the ongoing military response to border aggression, Tarar reported that more than 580 Afghan Taliban personnel sustained injuries.

The Minister detailed the destruction of 182 checkpoints belonging to the Afghan Taliban regime, while 31 others have been taken over by Pakistani forces.

Military action included airstrikes at 46 locations inside Afghanistan. According to government figures, the operation destroyed 185 tanks, weapon-carrying vehicles, and artillery guns.

The operation remains active as a response to recent escalations along the border.

The 2026 Afghanistan-Pakistan war reached a critical boiling point in late February following Pakistan’s launch of “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq”. 

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has officially characterized the border hostilities as an “open war,” reflecting the most severe direct military confrontation between the two nations since the Taliban regained power in 2021.

The rapid deterioration of regional security has prompted widespread international concern and disrupted cross-border trade, travel, and aviation. 

The United Nations has urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and protect civilians. 

Meanwhile, regional powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have offered to mediate a ceasefire. Despite diplomatic pressure, Pakistan has maintained that its military operations will continue until its strategic objectives neutralizing the cross-border militant threat and restoring deterrence are fully achieved.

President Asif Ali Zardari has extended Holi greetings to the Hindu community and appealed to them to observe the festival in a simple manner keeping in view the situation on Pakistan’s western border and the tensions in the region.

The president said Pakistan values its religious and cultural diversity and directed caution in public gatherings, adding that, however, moderation is necessary under current circumstances.

Following President Zardari’s appeal, the Pakistan Hindu Council said the festival would be celebrated with simplicity. Its patron, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, stated that Hindus across the country would observe Holi on March 2 and 3 with devotion and respect, and without public events. 

While Senator Krishna Kumari echoed the call for a restrained celebration, framing it as an act of solidarity and peace, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari thanked the Hindu community for supporting the appeal, framing it as a gesture of national solidarity. 

“Our joys and sorrows are shared; festivals are observed together,” he said, also extending advance Holi greetings.

The appeal, however, did not sit well with netizens who appeared divided over it. While several users expressed support for the restrained celebration as a sign of solidarity with Iran, others framed the appeal as inconsistent or unfair.

“I wouldn’t be celebrating the Holi festival this year to show my solidarity and mourn for the people of Iran. May world peace prevail,” wrote one Hindu community member. 

Some questioned why Hindu celebrations should be affected by tragedies elsewhere, asking if similar restrictions applied to Eid or Ramzan. Comments such as, “Respect goes both ways. But why must one faith’s festival be paused for another’s tragedy?” and “I was wondering if they asked Muslims too to celebrate Ramadan simply” indicated a perception of double standards.

Criticism also highlighted broader concerns about the treatment of minorities in Pakistan. Netizens noted a pattern where Hindus, Sikhs and Christians have faced restrictions or social pressure in celebrating festivals. 

“This is the condition of minorities in Pakistan, which obviously no minority rights activist will talk about,” wrote one while another said, “Asking Hindus to show restraint in celebrating their festival shows the mindset of Islamic Pakistan where Muslims are openly celebrating Ramzan.” 

A smaller number of responses were sarcastic or critical of the linkage between Holi celebrations and national security, highlighting the perceived disconnect between a cultural festival and border tensions.

“How does playing Holi with colours affect a war?” asked one user.

Pakistan has ruled out any talks or negotiations with the Afghan Taliban until terrorist attacks originating from Afghan territory stop completely.

“There won’t be any talks. There’s no dialogue. There’s no negotiation. Terrorism from Afghanistan has to end,” the Pakistani prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Musharraf Zaidi, said. He stressed that Pakistan’s responsibility was to protect its citizens and territory.

Responding to an offer of dialogue from Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, Zaidi said Pakistan’s position is clear and unwavering. 

He added that militancy inside Afghanistan may be an internal matter, but Pakistan cannot allow attacks to threaten its citizens. “If Pakistan identifies terrorist threats in specific locations, it has the capability to act to eliminate them,” he said.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, echoed the stance. He said Pakistan’s only goal is to eliminate terrorist threats and ensure the country’s security. “The country has acted as a responsible neighbour, but its goodwill should not be seen as weakness,” Tarar said.

Tarar said the desired outcome is the complete elimination of terrorism threats and added that it is too early to comment on the possibility of a ceasefire, given the rapidly changing security situation. 

He also questioned potential external support for the Taliban, saying their ideology does not align with global norms and should not expect significant international backing.

Amid a tense stand-off between Pakistan and Afghanistan, authorities have issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain alert and vigilant in public places. 

Officials have advised the public to exercise caution while visiting crowded areas, including markets, shopping centres, places of worship, public transport terminals, and other locations where people gather in large numbers. 

Citizens are urged to stay aware of their surroundings and follow standard safety practices during routine movement.

The advisory requests members of the public to promptly inform the nearest police station or relevant law enforcement agency if they notice any suspicious individual, unusual activity, or unattended object. Authorities have stressed that timely reporting can assist security agencies in taking preventive measures.

Security officials have reiterated that cooperation from citizens is an essential component of maintaining public safety. People are encouraged to follow instructions issued by law enforcement agencies and to allow security personnel to carry out checks where required.

The public has also been advised to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information. 

Authorities have urged citizens to rely only on official statements and credible sources for updates related to the security situation. Spreading rumours or unconfirmed reports may cause unnecessary concern and hinder security operations.

Women’s rights activist Mahnoor Omer has been named among TIME’s Women of the Year for 2026, following her legal challenge of taxation of menstrual hygiene products in Pakistan.

Omer is one of 16 women from different fields recognised by the magazine this year. 

The list includes Oscar-nominated filmmaker Chloé Zhao and Olympic gold medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Reacting to the recognition, Omer said she was “deeply grateful for this honour”. She said she hoped “this recognition reflects the limitless potential of Pakistani women”, adding that “while there is still a long journey ahead in ensuring equal opportunities for all, moments like this remind us of how far we have come and how much further we can go”. 

She also said she would “live up to my promise to challenge injustice whenever and however I can, and to use my platform with courage and purpose”.

The recognition comes months after Omer filed a petition in the Lahore High Court in September, seeking tax-exempt status for feminine hygiene products. 

In her petition, she challenged the imposition of taxes on menstrual products, arguing that such levies penalise women for “a biological function over which they have no control”.

Omer asked the court to declare feminine hygiene products as essential goods and to remove the 40 percent tax imposed on their retail prices.  

The petition stated that the taxes were “inherently discriminatory” and in violation of Articles 9, 14, 25 and 38 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which relate to security of person, dignity, equality of citizens and the promotion of social and economic wellbeing.

The petition further stated that period poverty defined as limited access to menstrual hygiene products, waste management and education related to menstruation leads to girls missing school, women remaining outside the workforce and increased cases of urinary tract infections.

According to her profile in the magazine, Omer’s activism began in her early teens. At the age of 14, she founded the Noor Foundation, which runs workshops for girls in villages on topics including sexual education and climate change.

At 16, a discussion about the cost of menstrual products led her to examine their usage across the country. She found that only around 12 per cent of women in Pakistan use products such as sanitary pads and tampons, a finding that later shaped her legal challenge.

Omer is among several activists campaigning for menstrual hygiene products to be declared essential goods and exempt from taxation. 

Weeks after her petition, Karachi resident Alisha Shabbir filed a similar petition in the Sindh High Court. Separately, Bushra Mahnoor, founder of Mahwari Justice, has worked to provide menstrual hygiene products and awareness to women in low-income areas, including during relief efforts after the floods of 2022 and 2025.