An increase in terrorism attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan triggered a sharp rise in the number of civilians killed or wounded there last year, pushing South Asia past the Middle East as the top terror-hit region in the world. Thousands of civilians overwhelmingly Muslim continue to be slaughtered in extremists attacks, contributing to the instability of the often shaky, poverty-stricken governments in the region, the statistics compiled by the National Counter Terrorism Centre show. Overall, the number of terror attacks in Pakistan rose from about 1,800 in 2008 to more than 1,900 attacks in 2009. Suicide bombings more than doubled between 2007 and 2009, jumping from 40 to 84.
All these statistics are alarming, as we need these figures to come down in the year 2011 so that we can restore peace in the region and moves towards prosperity.
FARHAN KHALID
Islamabad
