The timeline of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (; ) summarizes key events and developments of Pakistan's nationwide counterterrorism operation conducted by the Pakistani military in coordination with law enforcement agenciess. Covering the period from 23 February 2017 to 22 July 2024, it highlights major operations, raids, arrests, and security milestones aimed at dismantling militant networks and consolidating gains from earlier campaigns, particularly Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Launch 22 February 2017 — The Pakistan Army publicly announced the launch of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (literally, “Elimination of Discord”) nationwide. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement described its goals as eliminating residual and latent terrorist threats, consolidating gains from previous operations, and securing Pakistan's borders. The operation was designed to incorporate multiple security agencies (army, air force, navy, civil armed forces, police, and intelligence bodies) working in coordination. Alongside counterinsurgency, a “de-weaponisation” campaign and explosive control measures were declared as cardinal components.
2017: Early Operations & Sub-Operations
By April 2017 — Military sources reported seizures of weapon caches and hundreds of arrests in Punjab province under Radd-ul-Fasaad, as security forces intensified operations in Pakistan's heartland. Operation Khyber IV (as a component of Radd-ul-Fasaad) — This sub-operation was conducted in Rajgal Valley (FATA region) to prevent ISIS-Khorasan infiltration from Afghanistan, and to further secure the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Lahore bombing, 23 February 2017 — A bombing in Lahore's Defence area killed 10 people. Occurring one day after the operation's launch, this attack was initially considered as part of the terror threat landscape that Radd-ul-Fasaad sought to address.
Intermediate Years (2018–2021): Consolidation & Statistics
End of 2018 — Pakistani official data indicated that in 2018, 368 civilians, 163 soldiers, and 166 terrorists had been killed in 163 incidents. Authorities claimed that 207 terrorists were arrested in 65 operations, and 301 terrorists surrendered in 4 separate incidents under the operation's remit. By 2020 / 2021 — ISPR and media reports claimed that more than 149,000 intelligence-based operations had been undertaken, “thousands” of threat warnings issued, and hundreds of planned attacks prevented. As of 2021 — Pakistani sources reported that over 375,000 intelligence-based operations had been conducted under Radd-ul-Fasaad across the country.
Later Developments & Evaluation
March 2022 — Analysts and military commentators described Radd-ul-Fasaad as having “changed Pakistan’s trajectory” by reducing terrorism incidents and restoring relative peace, though acknowledging ongoing challenges. Strategic critiques and evaluations — Academic studies (e.g. Dar, 2019) and security analysts have assessed the operation's capability to disrupt militant support networks, dismantle arms supply lines, and enforce law and order beyond conventional combat zones. Continuing threat environment — While Radd-ul-Fasaad has been credited with gains in counterterrorism, other analyses note that the resurgence of instability in neighbouring Afghanistan (especially post–2021) has posed renewed challenges for Pakistan's internal security, with a “new wave” of terrorism observed.
2017 Source:
February 1 February – Three security personnel and six civilians were injured on Tuesday when a roadside blast targeted a Frontier Corps convoy in Charsadda. 6 February – At least two policemen were injured in a militant attack at Thana Mandan police station in Bannu 7 February – Four people including two security men were injured in an explosion on Tuesday near a Levies check post in Chaman, a border town adjacent to Afghanistan. 10 February – Five students were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Arang area of Bajaur Agency. 10 February – At least one child was killed and four others injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off at Arang area. 12 February – Samaa TV Journalist Taimoor Khan killed in an incident. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed the responsibility. 12 February – Five security personnel were injured in a roadside bomb blast in Bajaur Agency's Mamund Tehsil 12 February – 3 FC Personnel killed in South Waziristan IED Explosion. 13 February – A blast outside the provincial assembly in Lahore killed at least 14 people and injured more than 87 others. 13 February – Two killed in Quetta IED blast. 15 February – At least two people killed and seven others injured in a suicide blast in Peshawar's Hyatabad area. 15 February – 5 People including 3 Levies personnel killed and Eight others were injured in a suicide attack in Mohmand Agency. 15 February – Intelligence agency man shot dead in Nowshera firing. 16 February – Three soldiers martyred, two injured in an IED explosion in Awaran. 16 February – Attack on police vehicle kills Five three were also injured.
17 February Three Frontier Corps personnel were injured after militants from Afghanistan attacked a Pakistani border check post in Khyber Agency. The ISPR reported that some militants were killed during the exchange. 19 February A cracker blast reported in Hyderabad's Naya pul leaving 15 passerby wounded. 20 February Five hurt in Nadra firing incident in Quetta. 21 February Three suicide bombers targeted a sessions court in Tangi, Charsadda District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 6 people and injuring more than 20 others. 21 February At least two people died while another was injured in a landmine blast in Dera Bughti. 23 February 2017 At least 45 suspects were arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Joint operations were conducted in Westridge, Dhoke Hassu and Bakery Chowk area of Cantt. The Frontier Corps (FC) and intelligence agencies foiled a major terror plot near Loralai, Balochistan. The security forces recovered 23 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during the joint targeted operation. 26 February 2017 The apex committee of Punjab decided to expedite ongoing operation against terrorists across the province. The ISPR said that at least four terrorists were killed and more than 600 suspects detained in over 200 raids conducted by the Rangers across Punjab. The raids were conducted in various parts of Punjab, including Karor, Layyah and Rawalpindi.
March Source: 6 March Five soldiers of Pakistan army and 10 militants were killed in a cross border attack at three border checkpoints in Mohmand Agency. 17 March At least three Pakistani soldiers and eight Taliban militants were killed when insurgents launched cross-border attacks on military training facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
April Source: 14 April 4 Rangers personnel martyred and 3 were injured and Rangers kill 10 TTP militants in operation near DG khan. 20 April Eight suspected TTP militants were killed by CTD in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Sheikhupura. 20 April Five terrorists were killed and 11 apprehended during search and intelligence-based operations (IBO) carried out in different parts of the country during the last 24 hours. 25 April – 14, including six children, killed and 9, including 4 Khasadar officials, injured in a roadside blast in Kurram Agency.
June Source: 23 June – 14 people ─ including seven policeman ─ lost their lives, while 19 others were injured in a suicide blast that shook Shuhada Chowk in Quetta's Gulistan Road area on Friday morning.
July Source: 10 July – 3 people were killed and over 20 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at Bogra Chowk in Chaman, Baluchistan.
October Source: 18 October - At least eight people, including seven policemen, were killed and 24 others injured in an explosion targeting a truck carrying police officials in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta.
November Source: 9 November - A senior police officer was among three suspected militants involved in ISI Clandestine activities who died in a suicide attack on Quetta the provincial capital of Balochistan.
December Source: 3 December 11 BRA militants held in Balochistan raids. 8 December Surrender of 300 militants in Quetta along with 17 commanders.
Summary of 2017 At the end of 2017, 463 civilians, 215 soldiers and 591 terrorists were killed in 295 incidents. 906 terrorists were arrested in 179 incidents and 924 terrorists surrendered in 12 incidents
2018 Soure:
January 15 January – Security personnel were killed when their vehicle was ambushed in Balochistan. 16 January – Gunmen killed a police constable in Quetta. 16 January – A suicide bomber on a motorcycle in Karachi, aided by gunmen, targeted a senior officer known for leading raids on militant hideouts. The officer survived, and his guards killed two of the gunmen. 18 January – Gunmen killed a mother and daughter working on polio vaccination in Quetta. 30 January – A bomb explosion in the Upper Kurram Agency killed multiple members of the same family.
February Source: 2 February – A suicide bomber injured two guards. 3 February – Eleven soldiers of the Pakistan Army were killed from a suicide attack near a military camp in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 5 February – Multiple casualties from a bomb that targeted a pro-government leader in Panjgur. 5 February – Gunmen attacked two Chinese nationals in Karachi. 5 February – Multiple casualties when a vehicle was attacked in North Waziristan. 7 February – Multiple casualties from a remote-controlled explosion in Bajaur Agency. 14 February – Tehrik-i-Taliban gunmen killed paramilitary soldiers in Quetta. 16 February – A leading tribal elder and chief of a local peace committee was killed by a bomb in Bajaur Agency. 21 February – A police checkpoint in Peshawar was attacked by people with hand grenades. 23 February – The car of a senior government official on Peshawar's Ring Road was targeted with a bomb. 28 February – Paramilitary soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing outside Quetta. Elsewhere in Quetta, gunmen killed two guards in a senior police officer's convoy.
March Source: 8 March – Two people were shot in Quetta. 14 March – Multiple casualties in a suicide bombing at a police checkpoint outside Lahore. 17 March – Terrorists killed polio workers and a paramilitary Frontier Corps soldier in Mohmand Agency. 24 March – A hand grenade thrown at a spring festival in Dera Ismail Khan injured dozens of people. 30 March – An IED killed policemen in the district police officer's convoy in Dera Ismail Khan. 31 March – Gunfire during an operation in Balochistan resulted in the death of one soldier and one terrorist.
April Source: 1 April – Gunmen attacked a vehicle in Quetta, killing a member of the Shia Hazara community. 9 April – A suicide bomber injured multiple people near a Balochistan Frontier Corps vehicle in Quetta. 15 April – Christians were shot and killed outside a church in Quetta. 18 April – A shopkeeper in the Shia Hazara community was shot and killed in Quetta. 22 April – Gunmen on a motorcycle killed Shiites outside Quetta. 24 April – Three suicide bombings killed multiple policemen in Quetta. 26 April – Multiple people were killed by a hand grenade attack at a wedding in North Waziristan. 28 April – Two shopkeepers in the Hazara community were shot and killed in Quetta.
May Source: 2 May – A roadside bomb exploded in Safi Tehsil. 3 May – A bomb injured three security personnel in Jani Khel. 3 May – A vehicle carrying civilian employees of an atomic agency PAEC was attacked in Attock. There were multiple casualties. 4 May – Six labourers of Punjabi descent were shot dead in Balochistan. 6 May – Ahsan Iqbal, Interior Minister, was shot in the shoulder while getting out of his car to attend a political meeting in Punjab province. 11 May – A bomb targeted a police patrol at a bus stop in Bannu.