Deep in Pakistan’s resource corridors, violence is spiraling out of control, threatening to derail a vital growth story. Balochistan’s treasure troves of copper, gold, and coal, paired with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s hydro and mineral hotspots, represent billions in potential. But 2025 delivered devastation: A 34% violence uptick to 3,417 deaths, eclipsing the past decade’s tolls amid five years of worsening trends post-Afghanistan shift.
The epicenter? KP and Balochistan, claiming 96% of deaths and 93% of events. KP fatalities leaped 44% to 2,331; Balochistan’s grew 22% to 956. Forces on the frontlines paid dearly—374 soldiers (22 officers) and 216 police lost.
TTP leads the insurgency pack, with BLA, BLF, and regional Daesh fueling the fire. Their playbook includes hammering strategic sites and foreign ventures, and surviving crackdowns positions them to strike economic nerves next.
For policymakers and investors, the stakes are existential. This entrenched crisis erodes confidence, inflating risks beyond mitigation. Pakistan’s leadership faces a pivotal choice: Neutralize the threat decisively, or forfeit the prosperity these provinces promise.