Pakistan

K-P, Balochistan hit hardest by terror attacks

80% of all fatalities in country happened in two provinces in Q2 of 2023

Our Correspondent July 12, 2023

People and rescue workers lift a damaged portion to look for survivors under a collapsed roof, after a suicide blast in a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan January 30, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:

Of the four provinces, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were the primary centres of terror attacks, accounting for more than 80% of all fatalities in the country during the second quarter of 2023.

According to a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) on Tuesday, Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, and Sindh experienced relatively fewer incidents of violence in comparison to K-P and Balochistan.

The overall number of fatalities decreased by 21%, from 358 in Q1 to 284 in Q2, 2023, marking a significant decrease in violence.

Balochistan was the only province to witness a surge in violence (fatalities) by 14%.

The most significant percentage decrease in violence was seen in Sindh province – nearly 80%, followed by Punjab, with 55%, and K-P 20%, compared to the previous quarter.

The majority - nearly 62% - of the casualties recorded in Q2, 2023 resulted from terrorism; where 121 terrorist attacks caused 165 fatalities and 191 injuries.
On average, one security operation was conducted every second day.

The number of terror attacks exceeded this frequency, with more than one attack occurring per day; where a significant portion of these attacks specifically targeted security personnel.

The security officials were the biggest victims of 121 incidents of terrorism, with 103 fatalities, followed by civilians who suffered 62 fatalities.

There were 165 fatal victims of terrorism, compared to 119 fatalities of outlaws, comprising militants, insurgents, and criminals, as a result of 55 counter-terror operations conducted by the security agencies.

The fatalities of security personnel recorded in the first two quarters of 2023 (267) make up almost 93% of their fatalities witnessed during the entire preceding year (286).

The human losses of security forces may double by the end of this year if this trend continues, the CRSS warned in its report.

The fatalities of security personnel continue to surge from 2021 onward.