Pakistan has reportedly registered the highest hit by terror attacks in August since 2014, a new report reveals.
The report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) states that 99 terror attacks were carried out in August, resulting in 112 deaths and 87 injuries. Comparatively, July saw 54 attacks, including four suicide attacks.
The data compiled by PICSS shows an 83% rise—the highest in a single month since November 2014—in terror violence last month.
Pakistani security forces remained the primary target of militant attacks, accounting for half of the total deaths and 63% of the total injured.
Meanwhile, in the first eight months of this year, Pakistan was struck by some 22 suicide attacks that killed at least 227 people and wounded 497 more, the report stated.
The report indicates that border regions with Afghanistan were affected the most.
Balochistan province and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) saw a significant surge in terror-related violence in August. While Balochistan witnessed a 65% increase in militant attacks, from 17 in July to 28 in August, FATA saw a 106% increase, from 18 in July to 37 in August.
Most of the attacks were carried out by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its offshoots.
A May report showed that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 has significantly strengthened and emboldened the TTP as the group’s threat remains imminent in Pakistan.
In July, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Munir said that TTP safe havens in Afghanistan were “major reasons” behind his country’s insecurity, adding the group not only enjoys “freedom of movement” at the border areas but also has access to the latest weapons left behind by US and NATO troops.
Despite mounting allegations, the Taliban has rejected Pakistan’s allegations, saying the TTP does not operate inside Afghanistan.
The Taliban and TTT share ideological, operational, and personal alignment.
According to the Pakistani Express Tribune newspaper, there are between 8,000 to 12,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan and the number could rise to 30,000 if their family members are included.
