On April 17, 2026, a policeman, identified as Constable Khadim Ali Shah, was killed and another constable, identified as Mohammed Tufail Khan, was injured in an attack by armed assailants in Manghopir area of Orangi Town in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
On April 17, 2026, Security Forces (SFs) arrested three TTP terrorists during a joint operation in the Lyari town of Karachi. Arms and ammunition, including a 30-bore pistol and 18 rounds, were recovered from their possession. During initial interrogation, the terrorists reportedly made key disclosures, revealing plans to carry out a major attack in Karachi.
On April 10, 2026, a worshipper, Rehan, son of Ghulam Nabi, was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside a mosque in Sector 5C-1 within the limits of the Khawaja Ajmer Nagri Police Station in Karachi. The incident occurred when armed motorcyclists opened fire on Rehan at the entrance of the Farooq-e-Azam Masjid, shortly after Fajr prayers.
On April 10, 2026, in a joint operation with a Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA), the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested a target killer linked to the banned Shia outfit, Zainabiyoun Brigade, near University Road in Karachi.
According to a statement issued by CTD, “During the operation, the team arrested target killer Muhammad Farhan Khan, son of Muhammad Ismail, and recovered a 9mm pistol along with a loaded magazine containing eight bullets. The pistol was used in the 2023 targeted killing. He has been involved in multiple sectarian and religious terrorist activities in the past.
According to partial data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), 10 terrorism-related fatalities, including eight terrorists, one civilian and one SF personnel, have been reported in the current year in Sindh thus far (data till April 19, 2026). During the corresponding period of 2025, the province recorded 12 fatalities (seven SF personnel, five civilians and one terrorist). Meanwhile, during the whole of 2025, Sindh recorded 49 terrorism-linked fatalities (26 civilians, 16 SF personnel and seven militants), as compared to 38 fatalities (15 civilians, 14 SF personnel and nine militants) in 2024, an increase of 28.94 per cent.
Civilian fatalities jumped from 15 in 2024 to 26 in 2025, an increase of 73.33 per cent. Similarly, SF fatalities increased from 14 in 2024 to 16 in 2025. Meanwhile, terrorist fatalities decreased from nine in 2024 to seven in 2025.
Other parameters of terrorism also increased in the province in comparison to the previous year. There were five major incidents (each involving at least three fatalities) in 2025, as compared to four in 2024. Similarly, the resultant deaths from major incidents increased from 13 in 2024 to 19 in 2025. The prominent major attack of 2025 happened on August 26, when TTP terrorists opened fire near the Faqira Goth area on the Site Super Highway in Karachi, killing four people and injuring one. TTP released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
There was also an increase in incidents of explosion in Sindh. There were 14 such incidents in 2024, resulting in 14 fatalities, as compared to nine incidents resulting in 10 fatalities earlier.
Meanwhile, out of 30 districts in Sindh, the provincial capital Karachi remained the epicentre of terrorism. Out of 49 fatalities reported in the province in 2025, Karachi alone recorded 31. The remaining 18 fatalities were reported from Kashmore District (8), Ghotki District (6), Naushahro Feroze District (2), Larkana District (1) and Badin District (1). During 2024, of 38 fatalities reported in the province, Karachi alone recorded 27. The remaining 11 fatalities were reported from Ghotki (5), Kashmore (2), Shikarpur (2), Jacobabad (1) and Jamshoro (1).
Apart from Islamist terrorist groups, including TTP, and Baloch separatist groups, Sindhi separatist formations such as the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) and Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA) remained violently active in the region. In coordination with Baloch separatist groups, these outfits have been teaming up to counter Punjabi dominance in the region. A March 2, 2025 media report noted that SRA had joined the Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an alliance of “pro-independence” insurgent groups of Balochistan, to intensify operations against Pakistan and China.
BRAS ‘spokesperson’ Baloch Khan disclosed that a high-level meeting was held with senior delegates from BLA, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), and SRA.
The result of this alliance was reflected in the attack on March 4, 2025, when SRA cadres ambushed National Logistics Cell (NLC) vehicles on the Sujawal–Mirpur Bathoro Road in the Sujawal District (previously in Thatta District) of Sindh, injuring two drivers. In a statement, SRA ‘spokesperson’ Sodho Sindhi claimed that the drivers were severely injured and the vehicles were damaged. He accused the Pakistani state of “occupying Sindh” and exploiting its resources without restraint, asserting that Sindh’s land and resources belonged to future generations and would be defended “at all costs.
Earlier, on February 15, 2025, SRA cadres attacked NLC tankers near the Mirpur Mathelo area of Ghotki District. The group described the attack as a response to exploitation of Sindh’s resources, alleging diversion of Indus River water and land acquisition under the “Green Pakistan Initiative.”
On April 22, 2025, SRA cadres attacked a passenger train bound for Punjab near Guddu Chowk in Hyderabad District. The group claimed the attack targeted Punjabi settlers and described it as a protest against “continued colonial exploitation.” It also accused the state of attempting to control the Indus River and weaken Sindh.
On June 4, 2025, SRA cadres launched a hand grenade attack on the Naseem Nagar Police Station in Hyderabad city. The group accused the Pakistani state and police of suppressing Sindhi political movements and facilitating what it termed a campaign against the Sindhi population.
While state authorities have been focused on suppressing separatist activity, criminality has surged, particularly in Karachi. Street crime remained a major concern, with over 14,000 incidents reported in the first three months of 2026. According to Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) data released on April 9, nearly 134 people were killed during robbery resistance in this period.
In January 2026, 3,509 motorcycles and 1,441 mobile phones were stolen or snatched, along with 156 cars; 50 people were killed during robbery incidents. In February, 3,178 motorcycles, 1,237 mobile phones, and 165 cars were stolen or snatched, with 40 fatalities. In March, 3,467 motorcycles, 1,265 mobile phones, and 157 cars were stolen or snatched, with 44 fatalities.
During the corresponding period of 2025, Karachi recorded 16,977 street crime incidents, including theft of 4,298 mobile phones, 11,982 motorcycles, and 537 cars. Additional crimes included kidnappings and extortion cases, with 132 deaths reported, including 26 during resistance to robbery.
Inspector General of Sindh Police, Javed Alam Odho, stated on April 11 that crime rates across Sindh had declined, with an 18 per cent reduction in Karachi over the previous three months.
However, official data for 2025 recorded over 64,000 street crime incidents and more than 70 deaths. Police statistics showed 64,323 incidents in 2025, down from 71,105 in 2024. Fatalities decreased from 99 in 2024 to 70 in 2025, with injuries dropping from 400 to 290.
Data also indicated 17,706 mobile phones snatched at gunpoint in 2025 (down from 19,353 in 2024), 6,683 vehicles hijacked (down from 8,370), and 39,934 vehicles stolen (down from 43,382).
Criminologist Zoha Waseem of the University of Warwick noted that short-term comparisons are insufficient to assess crime trends, arguing that at least five to ten years of data are required. She highlighted underreporting and lack of evidence that public perception of safety has improved.
Although terrorism in Sindh has been contained to some extent, persistently high crime rates, particularly in Karachi, continue to pose a major governance challenge, requiring sustained and comprehensive law enforcement measures.
