November saw sharp rise in anti-state violence
The Revenue Department has completed 90 per cent computerisation of land records in Dera Ghazi Khan district. PHOTO: thecampaignworkshop
Pakistan witnessed another harrowing month of anti-state violence as 245 individuals lost their lives and 257 got injured in November alone in various terror attacks and counter operations.
According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), those killed in different violent incidents included 127 militants, 68 security forces personnel, and 50 civilians.
Among the injured were 119 civilians, 104 security forces personnel, and 34 militants. Security forces arrested 20 suspected militants, while militant groups kidnapped 11 individuals during the month.
Out of the total fatalities, 131 deaths occurred in militant attacks, including 54 security forces personnel, 50 civilians, and 27 militants. These attacks left 220 individuals injured. These included 119 civilians, 95 security forces personnel, and six militants.
Meanwhile, 114 of the total 245 deaths resulted from security forces' actions. Those getting killed during these operations included 100 militants and 14 security personnel.
PICSS reported a rise in militant activity, with 71 attacks recorded in November compared to 68 in October. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) remained the most affected province, experiencing 50 militant attacks that resulted in 71 deaths and 85 injuries.
Within the K-P, the merged districtserstwhile part of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) accounted for 28 incidents, leading to 36 fatalities, including 19 civilians, nine security personnel, and eight militants.
These attacks left 62 people injured, 33 of which were civilians, 27 security personnel, and two militants. Security forces' actions in these areas resulted in the death of 64 militants. Twelve security personnel also lost their lives in these incidents while 23 militants and nine personnel got injured.
In the mainland K-P, 22 militant attacks led to killing of 35 people, including 19 security forces personnel, 10 militants, and six civilians, while 23 others got injured in these incidents. During security operations in mainland K-P, 17 militants were killed and five got wounded.
The Kurram tribal district witnessed one of the worst sectarian clashes in recent history between Sunni and Shia tribes, with over 120 lives lost.
Balochistan recorded 20 militant attacks, resulting in 60 deaths, including that of 26 security forces personnel, 25 civilians, and nine militants.
These attacks injured 135 individuals, including 78 civilians, 53 security forces personnel, and four militants. Security forces' actions in Balochistan claimed the lives of 16 militants and two security personnel.
In Punjab's DG Khan district, militants launched a coordinated attack on a police station, which was repulsed successfully, according to police officials.
No militant attacks were reported in Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, or Gilgit-Baltistan. However, Karachi authorities apprehended the mastermind behind a suicide bombing targeting Chinese nationals near Karachi airport last month. Additionally, three militants were arrested in Islamabad.
The PICSS report highlighted that militant fatalities in November (127) were the highest in a single month since February 2017, when 148 militants were killed.