Pakistan Faces New Terror Strategy: Over 200 Officers Killed as Militants Shift from Bombings to Kidnappings

Pakistan is witnessing a dangerous new turn in its internal security crisis. Terrorist organizations operating within the country have drastically changed their strategy — moving away from bombings and target killings to systematic kidnappings of government and security officials.
According to official figures released by the Pakistani government, more than 200 officers have been killed so far this year, while dozens remain missing or held captive.

Terrorists Changing Tactics Across Pakistan

A recent report by BBC Urdu reveals that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch militant groups are now focusing on kidnapping officials rather than engaging in large-scale armed confrontations.
As per the report, at least one officer is abducted every day, most of them belonging to intelligence units and cybercrime departments.

Security analysts say this shift reflects a strategic adaptation by militant groups in response to Pakistan’s increasing reliance on surveillance, intelligence, and cyber operations to target them.

Kidnappings Surge in Khyber and Balochistan

Official data indicates that by September 2025, 114 officers were abducted in Khyber Province alone — nearly double the number reported in the same period last year.
A similar pattern has been observed in Balochistan, where security personnel, government employees, and local intelligence staff have been increasingly targeted.

In one of the most alarming incidents, a senior cybercrime officer was kidnapped at gunpoint in Islamabad, the country’s capital, which is often regarded as one of Pakistan’s most secure cities.

Why Are Militants Targeting Officers Instead of Bombings? 1. Countering Pakistan’s Cyber and Intelligence Warfare

Sources reveal that the Pakistan Army’s growing dependence on advanced technology and digital tracking has dealt major blows to terrorist networks this year.
Cyber and intelligence cells have been crucial in neutralizing more than 250 TTP fighters, including the group’s deputy commander, according to security agencies.

To weaken these efforts, terrorists are now directly targeting intelligence and cyber officers, aiming to dismantle Pakistan’s surveillance systems from within.
This tactic has allowed them to disrupt communication and data networks used for counterterrorism operations.

2. New Militant Resolutions from TTP Jirga

At the beginning of 2025, the TTP reportedly held a jirga (tribal council) where top commanders decided to focus on killing and abducting government officials instead of civilians.
Following this decision, the group has intensified its operations against Pakistan’s civil and military institutions.
Militants now kidnap senior officers first, interrogate them for intelligence, and later execute them or use them for prisoner exchanges.

Over 1,000 Attacks by TTP and BLA in 2025

As of September 2025, Pakistan’s government confirms that the TTP has carried out more than 700 attacks, resulting in the deaths of at least 260 security personnel.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has executed over 300 strikes across Balochistan, targeting both military convoys and government outposts.

Estimates suggest that the TTP currently has around 8,000 active fighters, while the BLA operates with nearly 4,000 militants spread across the region.

Pakistan’s Security at a Breaking Point

The escalation in abductions, killings, and cross-border attacks has plunged Pakistan’s internal security into one of its most fragile states in decades.
With its military overstretched and public confidence dwindling, experts warn that 2025 could mark the beginning of an unprecedented internal collapse, unless Islamabad swiftly overhauls its counterterrorism strategy.