Terror Attacks
In August, there was a sharp increase in militant attacks across the country, with 99 terror incidents reported, marking the highest number recorded in any single month since November 2014, according to a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
These attacks resulted in 112 deaths and 87 injuries, primarily targeting security forces personnel and civilians, as reported by The News on Sunday.
Comparatively, August saw an 83% rise in attacks when compared with July, which had 54 attacks. The PICSS report also noted four suicide attacks, three in tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one in mainland KP.
In July, there were five suicide attacks, the highest in a year. Over the first eight months of 2023, Pakistan witnessed 22 suicide attacks, resulting in 227 fatalities and 497 injuries.
The data from PICSS also indicates that security forces effectively responded to the militant threat, averting many attacks by killing at least 24 militants and arresting 69 others through various operations across the country.
The data highlights that Balochistan and erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) experienced the most significant increase in militant violence in August compared to the previous month.
Baluchistan witnessed a 65% increase in militant attacks, rising from 17 in July to 28 in August, while erstwhile FATA witnessed a 106% increase, from 18 in July to 37 in August. However, both regions also saw a decrease in fatalities, with a 19% and 29% decrease, respectively.
Excluding its tribal districts, KP also saw a substantial increase in militant attacks, rising from 15 in July to 29 in August, an 83% rise. Fatalities and injuries also increased by 188% and 73%, respectively.
The province of Sindh experienced a slight increase in militant attacks, rising from three in July to five in August, with deaths increasing from one to four.
Punjab remained relatively peaceful, with no reported militant attacks in August. The only attack reported in July was a low-intensity blast near a police station in Lahore, which caused one injury.
The data further reveals that security forces were the primary target of militant violence, accounting for 50% of total deaths and 63% of total injuries, marking a 51% increase in fatalities among security forces in August compared to July 2023.
