ISLAMABAD: Pakistan witnessed another harrowing month of anti-state violence in November 2024, with 245 individuals losing their lives and 257 others injured.
According to data released by the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the fatalities included 127 militants, 68 security forces personnel, and 50 civilians.
Among the injured were 119 civilians, 104 security forces personnel, and 34 militants. Security forces arrested 20 militants, while militant groups were responsible for kidnapping 11 individuals during the month.
Out of the total fatalities, 131 deaths occurred in terrorist attacks. Among them 54 security forces personnel and 50 civilians lost lives in terrorist attacks while 27 militants were killed by the forces.
These attacks left 220 individuals injured, comprising 119 civilians, 95 security forces personnel, and six militants.
Meanwhile, 114 of the total 245 deaths resulted from security forces’ actions, which killed 100 militants and while 14 security personnel lost lives.
PICSS reported a rise in militant activity, with 71 attacks recorded in November compared to 68 in October. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained the most affected province, experiencing 50 militant attacks that resulted in 71 deaths and 85 injuries.
Within KP, the merged districts (erstwhile FATA) accounted for 28 incidents, leading to 36 fatalities, including 19 civilians, nine security personnel, and eight militants. These attacks left 62 people injured, comprising 33 civilians, 27 security personnel, and two militants. Security forces’ actions in these areas resulted in 64 militants killed and 12 security personnel losing their lives, with 23 militants and nine personnel injured.
In mainland KP, 22 militant attacks led to 35 deaths, including 19 security forces personnel, 10 militants, and six civilians, while 23 others were injured. Security operations in mainland KP resulted in 17 militants killed and five wounded.
The Kurram tribal district witnessed one of the worst sectarian clashes in recent history between Sunni and Shia tribes, with over 120 lives lost.
Balochistan recorded 20 militant attacks, resulting in 60 deaths, including 26 security forces personnel, 25 civilians, and nine militants. These attacks injured 135 individuals, including 78 civilians, 53 security forces personnel, and four militants. Security forces’ actions in Balochistan claimed the lives of 16 militants and two security personnel.
In Punjab’s DG Khan district, militants launched a coordinated attack on a police station, which was repulsed successfully, according to police officials. No militant attacks were reported in Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, or Gilgit-Baltistan. However, Karachi authorities apprehended the mastermind behind a suicide bombing targeting Chinese nationals near Karachi airport. Additionally, three militants were arrested in Islamabad.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) highlighted that militant fatalities in November (127) were the highest in a single month since February 2017, when 148 militants were killed. However, security forces also suffered significant losses, with 68 personnel killed—the highest monthly toll since January 2023, when 114 security forces personnel lost their lives.
PICSS noted that deaths from militant attacks have exceeded 1,000 (1,082) in the first 11 months of 2024. The year has seen a total of 856 militant attacks, compared to 645 recorded in the entirety of 2023, underscoring the escalating security challenges faced by the country.
What experts say?
Experts cite uncontrolled borders as one of the major reasons for a spike in the terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Former National Counter-Terrorism Authority Ihsan Ghani Khan is of the view that billions of rupees have been spent on fencing the borders but there had been no substantial results to stop the illegal cross-border movement.
He agreed with the notion that violent incidents have increased in Pakistan since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021.
He favoured engagement with the Afghan Taliban government to find a solution to terrorism in Pakistan but insisted that the TTP issue of Pakistan and “we will have to resolve it”.
“We had attached lots of hopes to the Taliban government that they would resolve all problems, which was a wrong perception,” he told The Pakistan Daily.
Ihsan Ghani, who has also served as the police chief in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said he has always called for the role of parliament in solving the problem of terrorism and militancy.
To a question as to why the TTI is focusing on KP province, he said the group’s access is easy to the province, they are part of the society and they could not be easily identified.
