According to a statistical report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there has been a significant increase of 79% in terror activities in the country during the first half of 2023.
The report has raised alarm as it reveals that 271 militant attacks occurred in the last six months, resulting in the loss of 389 lives and injuries to 656 individuals.
Comparatively, the situation during the same period last year was much better, with 151 attacks, 293 deaths, and 487 injuries. This indicates a staggering 79% increase in militant attacks in the first half of this year compared to the corresponding period last year.
In addition, the latter half of 2022 witnessed 228 attacks, causing 246 fatalities and 349 injuries. Therefore, the first six months of 2023 saw an 18% increase in attacks compared to the latter half of 2022, along with a 58% rise in fatalities and an 88% increase in injuries.
To combat this rise in terrorism, Pakistani security forces have intensified their response, resulting in the killing of 236 militants and the arrest of 295 suspected militants in the first half of 2023.
The province most affected by these attacks during the first half of the year was Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with 174 reported militant attacks. These attacks claimed the lives of 266 individuals and injured 463.
Among these attacks, 100 occurred in mainland KP, causing 188 deaths and 354 injuries, while 74 incidents took place in the tribal districts, resulting in 78 deaths and 109 injuries.
The PICSS Militancy Database shows a 51% increase in terror attacks in the tribal districts of KP during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, although there was a 10% and 15% decline in fatalities compared to the first and second half of last year, respectively.?