Terror analysis: In Hazara, terrorism claimed 54 lives in four years

Most of the attacks targeted security personnel and NGO workers.

BATTAGRAM:

Despite being a host for Afghan refugees and containing a tribal area now known as Torghar district, the Hazara division was considered a peaceful area with few incidents of suicide bombings, target killings and other terrorist activities.

The division, which until recently attracted thousands of tourists and business tycoons due to its scenic beauty and pleasant weather, has become a hub of terrorism over the past several years.

The law and order situation in the division has severely been affected due to increase in acts of terrorism, due to which people have developed a sense of insecurity about their life and property.

According to official figures, a total of eight terrorist attacks were carried out in Hazara between 2007 and 2011, in which 54 people lost their lives, while 52 were injured. Haripur, Mansehra and Battagram, where Afghan refugees have been living for nearly three decades now, were the key targets during these attacks.

Out of these eight attacks, three were suicide attacks, while the remaining five were carried out by armed terrorists. Most of these attacks targeted police personnel and non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers.

According to the figures, a total of 54 people were killed during these acts of terrorism, while 52 were injured. Those who were killed include 15 army officers, nine police officials, nine women and one minor child.

The first suicide attack occurred on September 13, 2007 in Haripur, which killed 15 commandos and injured 19 soldiers. The second attack took place on June 22, 2009, also in Haripur, in which two police officers were killed, while seven were injured. Similarly, the office of World Vision, an international NGO in Mansehra, was attacked on March 10, 2010 — seven workers including two women were killed.

Likewise, four police officers were killed at Ghazi Kot on May 7, 2010, while on February 20 this year, two police stations in Balakot and Mansehra were attacked, as a result of which 10 police officers lost their lives. Apart from that, three female workers and a driver of Rise International, another NGO, were killed in
Mansehra when militants opened fire at them, while four staff members of Plan International lost their lives on February 25 when unknown gunmen attacked their office.

A suicide attack at the main Battagram bazaar during a meeting of PML-Q also resulted in the death of eight people including two women, while 26 others were injured during the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2011.