Fewer terror attacks in Sindh but casualties more than doubled in 2017

Compared to the past two years, Pakistan saw a slight decrease in the number of terrorist attacks during the year 2017, and while Sindh witnessed only one suicide bombing, the casualties in the province more than doubled.

The provisional statistics for 2017 released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based security think tank, put the total number of terrorist attacks across the country at 420.

Their figures show that the overall security situation saw a marginal improvement during 2017, but suicide bombings increased to 23, which is more than the previous two years: 17 last year and 18 the year before that.  

Fewer attacks in Pakistan

PICSS states that 1,387 people were killed (585 civilians, 555 militants and 247 security forces personnel) and 1,965 injured (1,580 civilians, 331 security forces personnel and 54 militants) in terrorism-related violence, including militant attacks, and security forces’ actions.

Militants carried out 420 attacks in which 912 people were killed (584 civilians, 225 security forces personnel and 103 militants) and 1,877 injured (1,576 civilians, 271 security forces personnel and 30 militants).

Security forces conducted 522 actions in which 475 people were killed (452 militants and 22 security forces personnel) and 88 injured (60 security forces personnel, 24 militants and four civilians).

The year 2017 also saw a significant decline in the number of security forces’ actions against militants and the resultant deaths and arrests of extremists.

Security forces’ actions declined by 113 per cent, militants’ deaths by 87 per cent and their arrests by 139 per cent. Despite a significant drop in security forces’ actions, the total number of militant attacks remained less than last year.

More casualties in Sindh

The only suicide bombing in Sindh in 2017 happened on February 16, inside the revered Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine in Sehwan, leaving around 90 people dead and some 300 more injured.

Even though Sindh saw a 40 per cent decrease in militant attacks in 2017, there was an 84 per cent increase in the number of deaths and a 142 per cent increase in injuries in terrorist incidents.

Militants carried out 40 attacks across the province in which 112 people were killed (92 civilians and 17 security forces personnel) and 303 injured (293 civilians and 10 security forces personnel). Security forces conducted 98 actions against militants in which 110 suspects were killed and 153 arrested.

Balochistan, Fata most troubled

The year 2017 saw the highest number of militant attacks (183) across Balochistan in which 308 people were killed (208 civilians and 84 security forces personnel) and 572 injured (443 civilians and 129 security forces personnel).

While the province saw almost no change in the total number of militant attacks, a decline was observed in the number of deaths (46 per cent) and injuries (28 per cent).

The province remained the target of a variety of militant groups, including sub-nationalist, sectarian and international groups. Forty-three per cent of the total militant attacks in the country were recorded in Balochistan, as 10 of the 23 suicide attacks happened in the province.

After Balochistan, Fata remained the most troubled part of the country during 2017. Although the number of militant attacks dropped by 14 per cent, the number of deaths increased by 77 per cent and injuries by 152 per cent. Kidnappings by militants also increased in by 113 per cent.  

Significant improvement in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed significant improvement in the security situation, as all the indicators saw negative trends.

There was a 40 per cent decline in the number of militant attacks, a 47 per cent decline in deaths and a 55 per cent decline in the number of the injured.

Despite the overall improvement, however, the province saw the second highest number of suicide attacks during the year 2017, as six suicide bombings were reported in the province.

More attacks in Punjab

Punjab witnessed a seven per cent increase in militant attacks, but there was a 37 per cent decline in deaths and a 41 per cent decline in the number of the injured.

AJK, ICT, GB situations

Two militant attacks were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in which one civilian died and five more were injured.

Three low-intensity militant activities were reported in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in which one person lost his life.

No militant activity was reported in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).