Terrorist activities in Fata increase in 2017: FRC

LANDIKOTAL: The Fata Research Centre (FRC), a non-governmental research organisation, has issued a report that said the terrorist activities have increased by 72 percent in Fata in the first quarter of 2017.

It noted that compared to the last quarter of 2016, the number of terrorist incidents in Fata have increased in 2017. 

According to the FRC, 69 violent incidents took place from October to December 2016, while 119 such incidents were recorded in the first quarter from January-March 2017.

The report said that 54 percent of the terrorist attacks targetted civilians. Another 42 percent of the attacks were carried out against the security forces in various parts of Fata. Four percent of the terrorist attacks targeted the members of the pro-government Amn Lashkars volunteers in the tribal areas.

The FRC report said that around 491 casualties were reported during the first quarter of 2017 in which 281 people lost their lives while more than 210 were injured.

It was observed that 50 percent of the total casualties during the first quarter of 2017 were civilians.

The FRC report said that Kurram Agency was the worst-hit in Fata due to the recurring violence. It suffered 212 casualties, including 69 people who were killed and another 143 sustaining injuries.

Khyber Agency, where military operations are going on, was the second most violent place in Fata with 119 casualties. Mohmand Agency was third in the list with 48 killed and 18 injured.

Bajaur and South Waziristan also remained disturbed during the first quarter of 2017 with 13 and 17 people killed, respectively.