Militants’ activities and resultant deaths go up

ISLAMABAD: The militant activities and resultant deaths in the country witnessed a relative increase as compared to the previous months though the government and security forces are making continuous efforts to further improve the security situation in the country.
This has been pointed out in the report, compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), pertaining to the security situation in the country. According to the report overall 162 incidents related to anti-state violence by the militants and counter-insurgency operations by the State were monitored during May 2015 in which 311 people killed, 136 injured and three kidnapped and at least 503 suspects were arrested.
The PICSS statistics highlighted that out of the given 162 incidents, there were 75 militant activities in which 174 persons were killed and 116 wounded. As compared to the previous month (April), there has been more than 33pc increase in militant activities across the country, more than 60pc increase in the number of deaths and more than 16pc increase in the number of injured.
This increase in the number of militant attacks has been witnessed across the country except Fata though this increase in Balochistan is much higher than in other regions. In Balochistan, there has been almost 62pc increase in the number of militant attacks, almost 32pc increase in the number of deaths and more than 37pc increase in the number of wounded people. Fata witnessed 21pc reduction in number of attacks, KP 22pc increase while Sindh witnessed 50pc increase in militant attacks.
Although militants are still not able to plan and execute attacks on major targets like military installations (except targeted killing of police officers in Karachi), they have been found quite active in targeting general population/ soft targets. The month witnessed two high profile attacks, including the sectarian Safoora incident, in which Ismaili community was targeted in Karachi while the other was the massacre of Pashtun bus passengers in Mastung. In addition, the son of President Mamnoon Hussain was also targeted in an IED blast in Hub, Balochistan, but he remained safe.
As per the monthly security assessment report of the PICSS, Balochistan has witnessed an increase in militant activities. During the month of May, 34 militant activities were reported in the province that killed 44 persons and injured 51. Given the allegations of Indian intelligenc agency RAW’s involvement in Balochistan and acknowledgement of such policy by Indian defence minister, the latest upsurge in violence in the province seems to be externally driven, which is apparently aimed at sabotaging China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The incident of Mastung bus passenger killings, who were ethnically Pashtun origin, brought about a new dimension to an already fragile security situation of the province. Targeting Pasthun population is meant to pit ethnic communities of Baloch and Pasthuns which could have far reaching implications on security and social condition of the province.
The PICSS report further indicated some increase in IED based attacks as 28 incidents were reported in May in which militants resorted to use IED against 22 incidents in the previous month. The report also highlighted phenomenal increase in incidents of targeted killing during the month of May as 21 incidents of target killing were reported during the month against 11 in the previous month. This increase in targeted killing was more pronounced in Balochistan though KP also witnessed some increase while number of incidents of targeted killing remained same in Sindh and Fata as compared to previous month.
PICSS statistics revealed slight reduction in security forces actions. During May 87 security forces actions were carried out in which 137 people were killed, 12 injured and more than 501 suspects were arrested. While intensity in ongoing military operation in North Waziristan has been increased where security forces have targeted militants (including foreigners) in Shawal valley, there have been some less activity reported from Khyber where forces have cleared most part of the agency in operation KhyberI and Khyber II.