Militant attacks

According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute of Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militant attacks in Pakistan registered a 24% rise in April this year over the preceding month. This situation indicates that militancy is still pretty much entrenched, though our security forces are doing their best to eliminate all forms of militancy from our soil. Our soldiers have achieved a notable success against terrorists over the years, and many of them have sacrificed their lives in this fight against terror. We salute our soldiers for their determination to eradicate the menace of militancy. However, the current increase in militant attacks shows that militants keep raising their ugly heads, posing a serious challenge to our security forces.

The PICSS figures show that in April, 34 attacks occurred across the country in which eight militants and 13 civilians were killed. In these clashes, 34 security personnel were also martyred. Twenty-six militant attacks in various parts of the country in March claimed 115 lives and left 288 wounded. Most of the attacks occurred in the former Fata region and other parts of K-P. In 16 attacks in April in ex-Fata, seven militants and three civilians were killed and 21 personnel of security forces were also martyred. In the same month in K-P, five militants were killed in 10 clashes with security forces. In April, four militant attacks took place in Balochistan that left 17 dead.

In April, four militant attacks occurred in Sindh. Of these, the most significant was the suicide bombing carried out by a woman at the Confucius Institute at Karachi University in which three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver were killed. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. Some analysts describe the militant attacks in K-P as motivated by religion, though they may be aimed at sowing confusion in the minds of the people. However, the attack on Chinese teachers in Karachi demonstrates that the BLA might go on changing its tactics and can attack in cities too.