In my perspective, terrorism refers to the strategic use of violence, fear, and intimidation by state or non-state actors to influence governments or populations for political, ideological, or religious objectives. It intentionally targets civilians to magnify psychological, social, or political impacts.
The impact of terrorism on women and children is significant. While terrorism affects societies at different levels, its severest and most long-lasting consequences fall on women and children, who often have limited protection, fewer resources, and greater exposure to trauma. Their experiences reveal how terrorism is not only a security threat but also a humanitarian, psychological, and socio-economic crisis.
Some of the most significant examples of women and children being killed by terrorism can be found in Palestine and Gaza, particularly from the seventh of October until now. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 58,573 Palestinians have been killed, among them 17,921 children and 9,497 women. These are statistics given by the Gaza Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, according to UNICEF, as of April 2025, 52,418 Palestinians were reported killed, including 16,278 children. UN Women estimates over 28,000 women and girls have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. According to UNICEF reports as of June 2025, 17,121 children and 10,328 women have been reported killed. This is a huge number. Along with other people, particularly women and children have been targeted under Zionist terrorist attacks.
Coming to Pakistan, we have several examples. In 2009, there was a bomb explosion in a women's shopping center in a place known as Meena Bazaar in Peshawar that killed many, including a large number of women and children. One of the most significant terrorist attacks on children was on the 16th of December, 2014. In that attack, six terrorists entered the Army Public School in Peshawar and killed a total of 140 to 150 people; among them, 132 were school children. That was a huge number. There are several other examples of targeting women and children in Iraq, Afghanistan, several African countries, Yemen, Syria, and a lot of other places.
Looking at the history of terrorism in Pakistan, we can understand that before 1979, this terminology was not used in the political literature of Pakistan. But from 1979—I mean the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan—until 1989, the spillover effect of the Afghan war introduced militancy, extremist ideology, and heavy weapons into Pakistan.
During the 1990s, sectarian groups escalated violence all over the country, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and even in Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. From 2001, after 9/11, until 2007, new terrorist groups emerged in Pakistan and started suicide bombings. This increased terrorist attacks in Pakistan by 300%, particularly after 2004.
The period from 2007 to 2014 can be considered the peak of terrorism and insurgency in Pakistan. During this period, more than 50,000 people were killed in Pakistan, and among them, there was a huge number of women and children, estimated to be around 35% of total casualties.
From 2014 onward, we had the Army Public School attack, which I have already mentioned. In this attack, at least 132 children were killed, making it the largest attack on children in Pakistani history.
From 2015 to 2020, we can consider this five-year period as a decrease in violence in Pakistan. Violence decreased by around 70%, and this persisted in some areas. But from 2020 onward till today, we have seen an immense increase in terrorism in Pakistan, particularly after the re-emergence of the Taliban in Kabul and their regaining power in Afghanistan. Some terrorist groups have been reactivated in Pakistan, and in some cases, there is a 40 to 60% increase in terrorist activities in different areas, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Considering the impact on women, there are some direct impacts. For example, attacks on girls' schools damaged more than 1,000 schools from 2007 to 2014, ultimately leading to them being shut down. Similarly, female teachers were targeted during these terrorist activities; over 150 female educators were threatened, attacked, and killed. We also have the forced involvement of women and children, particularly women. Reports of women being used for safe houses and logistics support are immense, and a very huge number of women were forced to cooperate with terrorists. Similarly, considering casualties, approximately 12% of all civilian casualties during the peak of terrorism were women.
The indirect impacts are different. We have education loss in conflict areas of Pakistan; girls' enrollment fell by 32 to 50% in the school system. Only one to ten displaced girls resume school within a year of returning. Economic impacts are also part of the indirect impacts on women in Pakistan. Women-headed households increased by 27% in conflict zones due to male casualties. Women's employment dropped by 40% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas of Pakistan during peak militancy.
Similarly, psychological impacts are very important and significant for women. 65% of displaced women reported PTSD—I mean post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms—which are very serious psychological symptoms. Similarly, 52% reported anxiety, depression, or trauma-induced insomnia. These are the psychological impacts and traumas for women.
We have other indirect impacts on women, like mobility and social restrictions, and gender-based violence. Conflict and displacement increased vulnerabilities; camps recorded a 25% rise in domestic and sexual violence cases in different areas.
Now, coming to children again, we have some direct and indirect impacts. Considering direct impacts, child casualties are over 9,000 children killed or injured from 2003 to 2024. School attacks are also significant, with more than 1,500 schools destroyed nationwide during these terrorist activities. The Army Public School attack in 2014 resulted in 132 child casualties, which caused long-term nationwide trauma. Children were also recruited for terrorist activity; militants recruited children aged 12 to 17 years for intelligence, indoctrination, or suicide bombing in different areas of Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It is estimated that over 2,500 children were radicalized or used in support roles for terrorists during different historical eras.
The indirect impacts on children can be highlighted as educational disruption. School closures affected 5 million children at various stages. Enrollment dropped by 22% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 34% in tribal areas during the peak insurgency. The dropout rate doubled in many districts due to fear, displacement, and poverty.
Secondly, psychological trauma is also an indirect impact on children. 70% of conflict-affected children show symptoms of PTSD, and 45% experience nightmares, fear attacks, and social withdrawal or aggression.
Lastly, we can highlight displacement effects. Because of terrorism, over 5.2 million people are internally displaced; half of them are children. Children in camps suffer from many things like malnutrition (38%), inadequate schooling (60%), and a high risk of infection (45%).
While considering indirect impacts, we can even highlight child labor and exploitation. Child labor increased by 20 to 30% in conflict zones; many children were forced into street vending, factory work, or even begging.
Family loss and orphanhood are also indirect impacts of terrorism on children. Tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by terrorist attacks. They lost parental support, increasing their vulnerability to poverty, trauma, and radicalization.
If we want to compare the impact on women versus children in Pakistan:
Impact on Women:
• Education Disruption: 30 to 50% decline in enrollment.
• Economic Loss: Employment fell by 40% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Widowed Households: Increased by 27%.
• Trauma: 65% reported psychological disorders.
• Mobility: 60% reduction in daily movement reported.
• Violence: 25% rise in gender-based violence in camps.
Impact on Children:
• Casualties: Over 9,000 killed or injured.
• Educational Disruption: 1,500+ schools destroyed; 22 to 34% drop in enrollment.
• Trauma: 70% show PTSD symptoms.
• Displacement: Over 2.5 million children displaced.
• Child Labor: Increased by 20 to 30%.
In conclusion, terrorism in Pakistan has inflicted deep, long-lasting psychological, physical, and social harm on women and children. Women are affected by restricted mobility, economic losses, trauma, and major disruption in education and livelihood. Children suffer death, injuries, PTSD, psychological trauma, exploitation, and prolonged interruption in their schooling.
Sustainable recovery requires trauma counseling, safe education, economic support for affected families, and strong child- and gender-sensitive protection policies. Ultimately, terrorism creates an environment where women and children bear the deepest and most persistent damage, both visible and invisible.
Effective counter-terrorism strategies must therefore go beyond military measures and incorporate psychological support, education continuity, economic empowerment, protection systems, and gender-sensitive rehabilitation programs.
Safeguarding women and children is essential not only for humanitarian reasons but for breaking the cycle of radicalization and ensuring sustainable peace.
By Seyed Qandil Abbas (Ph.D. in International Relations, Associate Professor at QAU, Pakistan)
This article was presented at the conference on “Children; Victims of Violence in Wars and Terrorist Incidents” held on the occasion of the World Children’s Day, organized by Habilian Association (Iranian Families of Terrorism Victims).