Pakistan Faces Surge in Terrorist Incidents: 1,215 Killed, 2,600 Injured in 16 Months
Islamabad, Aug 02: The Ministry of Interior has reported a troubling rise in terrorist incidents across Pakistan over the past 16 months, with 2,075 attacks resulting in 1,215 deaths and 2,600 injuries.
According to details presented in the National Assembly, 2023 alone witnessed 930 fatalities and 2,000 injuries from terrorist attacks. In the first four months of the current year, 285 individuals were killed and 600 were injured.
The report highlights the severity of the situation, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experiencing 1,140 attacks resulting in 756 deaths and 1,786 injuries. Balochistan reported 626 incidents, with 423 fatalities and 734 injuries. Sindh saw 19 attacks over the 16 months, with 14 deaths and 36 injuries. Punjab had eight incidents, resulting in 12 deaths and 11 injuries, while Gilgit-Baltistan recorded three attacks, with nine killed and 26 injured.
The Ministry of Interior attributed the rise in violence to the withdrawal of allied forces from Afghanistan, increased cross-border assistance to terrorists, and the growing use of cyberspace by terrorist organizations.
In response, 2,208 intelligence-based operations were conducted in the first quarter of this year, leading to the deaths of 89 terrorists and the arrest of 328 individuals. A draft national policy on countering extremism and violence is ready and awaiting cabinet approval.
