August proves deadly for Pakistan with 254 killed in terror attacks

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - At least 254 people, including 92 civilians and 54 security personnel, were killed in militant attacks and bombings in August - the deadliest month for Pakistan in the past six years.

According to the latest report of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, the South Asian country witnessed a complex trend of anti-state violence in August.

"August 2024 was the deadliest month of the year, with 254 people killed, including 92 civilians, 54 security personnel, and 108 militants. Additionally, 150 individuals were injured, including 88 civilians, 35 security personnel, and 27 militants," it said.

Militants carried out 83 attacks in which 175 people were killed and 123 others injured across the country, according to the report.

Security forces arrested 12 suspected militants, while militants kidnapped at least nine individuals, including a serving official of the Pakistan Army and an assistant commissioner, the report revealed.

According to the report, August 2024 saw the highest number of deaths in militant attacks since July 2018.

"With 175 fatalities from militant attacks, this was the deadliest month in six years. Meanwhile, militants faced the highest fatalities at the hands of security forces in any single month since February 2017, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing conflict," it said.

Southwestern Balochistan province witnessed a significant surge in violence as at least 125 people were killed, including 80 civilians, 22 security personnel and 23 militants.

Security improved in erstwhile tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where violent incidents dropped by 25%, and civilian casualties decreased by 43%, while militant casualties increased by 98%, with 65 militants killed in August compared to 20 in July.

Security forces’ losses in this region also rose by 54%, with 20 personnel killed in August compared to 13 in July 2024.

Sindh province witnessed two attacks with no fatalities, while Punjab saw one incident in which two militants were killed and two security personnel were injured.

During the last eight months, 757 people were killed and 733 injured in 640 militant attacks across Pakistan.

Terror attacks increased in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved and announced a "reinvigorated" national counter-terrorism campaign in June to "eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country.”

However, the announcement triggered opposition and criticism from political parties and locals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Islamabad accuses "Afghan-based" TTP militants of carrying out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, while Kabul denies the allegation.