As the security forces go for a final push against terrorists in the rugged Shawal valley, the situation in the settled and urban areas has witnessed a positive change, according to a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank.
According to the report, a total number of 46 militant-related activities were recorded in February 2016.
A slight drop is seen in militant activities as compared to month of January, 2016 when number of attacks by militants were 56. FATA witnessed 16 attacks in February compared with 9 in the previous month.
Balochistan, however is showing signs of improvement with 13 violent incidents registered in February compared to 25 incidents in January.
A marked reduction is observed in violent incidents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which have gone down to almost half. In KP, only 5 militant activities were recorded as compared to previous month in which 13 such violent incidents were recorded by PICSS.
In Punjab 3 and in Sindh 7 acts of violence were recorded, respectively. In the 46 violent incidents recorded in February, a total number of 51 people were killed which includes 33 security forces personnel, 2 volunteers and 16 civilians.
In these incidents 89 people were injured which include 48 security personnel, 40 civilians and a militant. In January, 102 people were killed in militant activities so with the reduction in violent incidents, resultant deaths have gone down to almost half.
In FATA, 16 militant attacks were recorded which include 9 IED attacks, 4 physical assaults and 3 incidents of target killing. In Baluchistan, 3 IED attacks, 7 militant assaults, 2 grenade attacks and one suicide attack was recorded by PICSS.
In KP, which is showing signs of improvement in security situation 2 IED attacks, one militant assault and 2 incidents of targeted killing were recorded in the month of February, 2016.
Punjab witnessed 3 incidents of militant assault in the month while Sindh witnessed 3 cracker attacks, one IED attack, 2 militant assault and one incident of targeted killing.
Notable incidents in February 2016 were attack on Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti who narrowly escaped an attack by militants ambushing his convoy on February 29 in Sui area of Dera Bugti. Another incident in KP was bomb blast near house of KP Excise and Revenue Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in DI Khan. One drone attack was reported in Kurram Agency in which a militant was injured.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Zewar alias Zewar Mulla, a closed associate of TTP, was arrested in an Intelligence based operation near Fateh Jang.
One suicide attack occurred in Quetta, Balochistan in which four security personnel and six civilians were killed
In February, 2016 security forces continued their operations against militants. A total number of 139 security forces actions were carried out in which 142 militants were killed and 574 arrests were made.
Last phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb was also announced in February, 2016 to clear Shawal and Datta Khel areas the last bastions of militants in North Waziristan.
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