Pakistan is witnessing a new wave of terror and security personnel and civilians alike are paying the price (Image: Reuters)
New wave of terror hits Pakistan: Pakistani death toll from terrorism also up 17% from March
Pakistan saw an increase in the number of terrorist incidents in April with 48 terrorist attacks. The attacks left 68 dead and 55 injured, the Dawn said, citing a report released on Monday by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
Pakistan has also witnessed 39 terrorist attacks, killing 58 and injuring 73. April saw a 23% increase in terrorist attacks and a 17% increase in deaths. Fatalities among security personnel also rose to 35%.
The PICSS report claims that security forces have increased the scale of their operations against terrorist groups.
Pakistan is witnessing a new wave of terrorism, led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and terrorists have attacked security personnel even in secure locations like police headquarters.
Earlier in April, Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) led by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to launch a “comprehensive operation” to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms in the country.
However, the report states that 41 terrorists were killed and 40 others arrested.
Security forces, according to the report, were mainly focused on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province where at least 30 terrorists were killed and 14 others arrested.
“KP remained the most affected province, with 49% of the total attacks reported during the month. In KP, militants carried out 33 attacks that killed 45 people, including 23 members of the security forces, 17 militants and five civilians. Thirty-two people were injured, including 17 members of the security forces and 10 civilians. Within the KP, 19 militant attacks were reported in the Mainland Province, while 14 were reported in the KP (former Fata) tribal districts,” the report said.
The report also states that terrorist attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan have increased by 100%. The think tank reported seven attacks in March, but the number of attacks rose to 14.
Balochistan has witnessed 13 attacks that have left 21 dead, including 11 security personnel and nine civilians. At least 23 people were injured, including 21 civilians and two members of the security forces.
Punjab and Sindh provinces saw only one attack each in April, according to the report.
The Director General of Inter-Agency Public Relations (ISPR) said the security forces were carrying out 70 intelligence-based operations daily and in the first four months of 2023, 1,400 suspected terrorists were arrested and 188 terrorists killed.
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