Executive Summary
In 2025, Pakistan experienced 32 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare, a decrease from 2024 but an increase from 2023. These incidents included attacks on polio vaccination campaigns, kidnappings and killings of health workers, and damage to health facilities. The violence was concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.
Why It Matters
This report provides critical data on the impact of conflict and instability on healthcare systems and personnel, highlighting a significant humanitarian and strategic challenge in a geopolitically vital region. Defense and geopolitical analysts should care about this as it illustrates the complex interplay between conflict, humanitarian crises, and state stability, impacting regional security and international aid efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Violence against healthcare in Pakistan in 2025 included 32 incidents, with 12 health workers kidnapped and 6 killed, and 7 health facilities damaged.
- The pattern of violence shifted, with an increase in damage to health facilities and kidnappings of general health workers, while attacks on polio campaigns decreased.
- Ongoing internal conflicts, a brief international armed conflict with India, natural disasters, and restrictions on civil society exacerbated the strain on Pakistan's health system.
- TTP militants were responsible for several incidents, including IED attacks on health facilities, while Indian military actions also caused damage during a brief conflict.
- The report highlights the severe impact of violence on health service delivery, particularly in vulnerable regions, compounded by humanitarian funding cuts and workforce attrition.
Strategic Relevance
The systematic violence against healthcare in Pakistan undermines state stability, exacerbates humanitarian crises, and complicates counter-insurgency efforts. It reflects the persistent challenges of non-international armed conflicts and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in conflict zones, impacting regional security dynamics and international humanitarian response capabilities.