- Think-tank says terrorists are on the run after action in FATA
- Terrorists have used more IEDs in May than April
A 25 percent increase has been witnessed in security operations against insurgency during May as compared to April, said Conflict Monitoring Centre (CMC) on Sunday.
The think-tank monitors anti-state violence in Pakistan.
Similarly, there has been an almost 36 percent increase in the number of casualties in these violent incidents attributed to terrorism as well as security forces’ operations.
In May, overall 260 incidents have been recorded by the CMC as compared to 209 in April while the number of casualties has also gone up from 266 in April to 362 in May.
The CMC also recorded phenomenal increase in security forces actions in May as 112 such incidents were noticed in May as compared to 72 in April suggesting an increase of almost 56 percent. Similarly, number of casualties in these 112 actions has also increased by almost 119 percent as 175 deaths were recorded by CMC in May as compared to 80 causalities in April. There is an eight percent increase in terrorism in May while the number of deaths in such terrorist acts are 187 as compared to 137 in April, thus, suggesting an increase of almost 36 percent.
According to CMC statistics, use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by terrorists has also increased. Of 148 terrorist activities, IEDs were used in 69 incidents in which 42 people were killed and 122 others injured. Use of IEDs has witnessed an increase of almost 33 percent as compared to previous month. If, 27 successful diffusions of IEDs by security forces are also put into the equation, the use of IEDs goes much higher.
The CMC also predicted that action by security forces in most parts of FATA has put terrorists on the defensive front, but terrorists are likely to retaliate in June when they are able to relocate. In the days to come, TTP/al Qaeda-related violence in FATA as well as in major cities in mainland Pakistan is expected. Following the previous trend, public places would remain the prime target in the wake of increased security measures and vigilance on the part of security forces.
Parting ways by Khalid Mehsud alias Khan Said Sajna in Waziristan was a major blow to TTP after continued infighting between the two terrorist groups, and revoking of peace agreement by Hafiz Gul Bahadar group in North Waziristan is a major blow to the government. At the moment, the TTP is trying to make alliances with other terrorist groups as witnessed in the negotiations between the TTP and Khyber Agency-based Lashkar-e-Islam.
On one hand, security action inflicted material and human losses to the terrorists while on the other hand, these also provide various terrorist groups to unite against security forces as it provides convergence of their interests.
With the view to hide their patronage of Pakistan-based terrorists and to allow them to cross over to Afghan side of the border due to actions by the security forces, Afghan officials have started blaming Pakistan for attacks on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
In the perception, Afghan security forces would continue to allow terrorists to flee into Afghanistan to re-group and target Pakistani security forces. While TTP chief Fazllullah has been making efforts to revive terrorism in his hometown – Malakand Division, easy movement across Pakistan-Afghanistan border provide terrorists to hide in adjoining Kunar province and further expand to north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.