Pakistan's security forces suffer highest casualties in 8 years : Reports
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In 2023, Pakistan's security forces have suffered their most significant losses in eight years, with a total of 386 personnel losing their lives in the first nine months, according to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The report for the third quarter of 2023 reveals a troubling 57% increase in nationwide violence. The CRSS Security Report for Q3 2023 highlights that security forces accounted for 36% of the 1,087 violence-related fatalities this year, marking an eight-year high.
This figure includes 137 army personnel and 208 police personnel. The rise in violence is particularly concentrated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, which have seen a consistent increase in violence over the past five years, with 92% of all fatalities occurring in these provinces in the first nine months of 2023.
During the third quarter of 2023, there were 445 lives lost and 440 people injured in 190 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. K-P and Balochistan bore the brunt of this violence, accounting for nearly 94% of all fatalities and 89% of recorded attacks during this period.
The report also points out a 57% surge in violence during Q3 2023, with Balochistan recording a staggering 131% increase, while Punjab reported a substantial 67% decrease. Civilians were the hardest-hit group during this quarter, accounting for nearly 58% of all casualties.
In summary, the report reveals alarming trends in security forces' losses in 2023, reaching an eight-year high and raising concerns about ongoing security 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%.
