A crucial in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) commenced today (Tuesday) in the National Assembly amid heightened security. The meeting comes as Pakistan grapples with escalating terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Convened by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the session will address the deteriorating security situation. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and his team, including Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, will brief lawmakers comprehensively.
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The meeting follows last week’s harrowing attack by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants in the Bolan district. The incident involved the bombing of train tracks and a hostage situation involving over 440 passengers. Security forces eventually secured the area, rescuing hostages and eliminating 33 attackers. Tragically, the operation resulted in 26 civilian and 22 security personnel casualties, including 18 army and FC members, alongside five civilians.
This high-level gathering also coincides with alarming revelations from the Global Terrorism Index 2025. The report ranked Pakistan as the second-most terror-affected country globally, an alarming rise from its fourth position last year. The report highlighted a 45% spike in terrorism-related deaths, surging from 748 fatalities in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, with terror attacks more than doubling to 1,099 in the same period.
Balochistan and KP remain primary hotspots, accounting for over 96% of attacks and fatalities in the past year. Both regions, bordering Afghanistan, continue to face the brunt of these violent incidents.
This closed-door session seeks to inform parliamentary members of ongoing challenges while coordinating civil-military efforts to address this growing threat effectively.
