In August, Pakistan experienced a significant surge in militant attacks,recording 99 incidents, the highest in any single month since November2014. These attacks resulted in 112 fatalities and 87 injuries, primarilyaffecting security personnel and civilians. Compared to July, there was an83 percent increase in militant attacks, with 54 incidents reported duringthat month.
According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict andSecurity Studies (PICSS) in Islamabad, August also witnessed four suicideattacks, three in tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one inmainland KP. In July, there were five suicide attacks, the highest in ayear. In total, the country saw 22 suicide attacks in the first eightmonths of 2023, resulting in 227 deaths and 497 injuries.
Security forces responded effectively to the militant threat, thwartingmany attacks by eliminating 24 militants and apprehending 69 others invarious operations across the country.
Balochistan and erstwhile FATA were the most affected regions by militantviolence in August compared to the previous month. Balochistan witnessed a65 percent increase in militant attacks, rising from 17 in July to 28 inAugust. Erstwhile FATA saw a 106 percent increase, going from 18 attacks inJuly to 37 in August. However, both regions also experienced a decrease infatalities, with a 19 percent and 29 percent reduction, respectively.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (excluding tribal districts) also saw a significantuptick in militant attacks, rising from 15 in July to 29 in August, an 83percent increase. Fatalities and injuries also increased by 188 percent and73 percent, respectively. The province was primarily targeted by theTehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its splinter groups, which claimedresponsibility for several attacks.
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Sindh experienced a slight increase in militant attacks, from three in Julyto five in August, with the death toll rising from one to four.
Punjab remained relatively peaceful, with no reported militant attacks inAugust. The sole attack in July was a low-intensity blast near a policestation in Lahore, resulting in one injury.
The data also highlights that security forces remained the primary targetof militant violence, accounting for 50 percent of total fatalities and 63percent of total injuries, marking a 51 percent increase in security forcecasualties in August compared to July 2023