Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Pakistan witnessed a sharp escalation in militant violence in 2024, making it the deadliest year for its security forces in nearly a decade, according to a report released by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The report highlighted a 40% increase in militant attacks compared to the previous year, with 905 incidents resulting in 1,177 deaths and 1,292 injuries.
Among these attacks, 444 were attributed to Islamist terrorists, causing significant casualties, including 685 soldiers and police officers and 927 civilians. On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily, the report noted, adding that combined fatalities of civilians and security personnel accounted for 63% of the year’s total losses. This marked a 73% increase compared to the 934 insurgents killed.
The surge in violence was largely blamed on Islamist militants allegedly operating from across the border in Afghanistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which aims to impose Islamic Sharia law in the country, claimed responsibility for the most attacks. Despite being weakened by military offensives launched in 2014, the group intensified its operations following the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), seeking independence from Pakistan, was identified as the second-most active group. A separate report earlier in the month noted the BLA’s evolving strategies and increased operational capabilities, resulting in a surge in both the frequency and intensity of their attacks.
The data’s release coincided with fresh assaults in Pakistan’s troubled northwest on Tuesday. Militants attacked a security post, a government office, and a police vehicle, leaving a policeman, a child, and another civilian dead. While no group claimed responsibility, suspicion fell on the Pakistani Taliban, which frequently targets the former tribal regions along the Afghan border.
