In 2023, Pakistan’s security forces have suffered their most significantlosses in eight years, with a total of 386 personnel losing their lives inthe first nine months, according to a report by the Center for Research andSecurity Studies (CRSS).
The report for the third quarter of 2023 reveals a troubling 57% increasein nationwide violence. The CRSS Security Report for Q3 2023 highlightsthat security forces accounted for 36% of the 1,087 violence-relatedfatalities this year, marking an eight-year high.
This figure includes 137 army personnel and 208 police personnel. The risein violence is particularly concentrated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) andBalochistan, which have seen a consistent increase in violence over thepast five years, with 92% of all fatalities occurring in these provinces inthe first nine months of 2023.
During the third quarter of 2023, there were 445 lives lost and 440 peopleinjured in 190 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. K-P andBalochistan bore the brunt of this violence, accounting for nearly 94% ofall fatalities and 89% of recorded attacks during this period.
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The report also points out a 57% surge in violence during Q3 2023, withBalochistan recording a staggering 131% increase, while Punjab reported asubstantial 67% decrease. Civilians were the hardest-hit group during thisquarter, accounting for nearly 58% of all casualties.
In summary, the report reveals alarming trends in security forces’ lossesin 2023, reaching an eight-year high and raising concerns about ongoingsecurity challenges facing the nation. The percentage of security forces’fatalities among all victims of violence has also reached an 11-year high,standing at nearly 36%.
