A new report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) paints a grim picture of Pakistan’s security situation in the first quarter of 2024.
Key Findings:
Sharp Rise in Violence: Pakistan witnessed a significant increase in violence, with 432 fatalities and 370 injuries from terror attacks and counter-terror operations.
Regional Disparity: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan bore the brunt, accounting for over 92% of fatalities and 86% of attacks. These regions experienced a surge in violence, particularly Balochistan with a 96% increase.
Civilian Casualties High: Over 65% of fatalities were civilians and security personnel, highlighting their vulnerability.
Militant Activity:
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Da’ish were the primary groups claiming responsibility for attacks.
A new group, Jabhat Ansar al-Mahdi Khorasan (JAMK), affiliated with the Gul Bahadur group, emerged.
Despite limited claims, insurgent groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) actively targeted security forces and government installations.
Improvements in Some Areas:
KP, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan saw significant decreases in violence, offering hope for improved stability.
Notably, Punjab witnessed an 85% decline.
Concerns Remain:
Unclaimed Attacks: A disturbing trend is the rise in unclaimed attacks, like the incident in North Waziristan where seven high-ranking security officials died.
Sectarian Violence: Eight incidents of sectarian violence were documented, with Ahmadis suffering the most fatalities.
April 2, 2024
source: Express Tribune