- Says 1,987 militants killed, 6,347 suspects arrested
Pakistan’s security situation saw unprecedented improvement in 2015 as anti-state violence dropped below the level of 2008 when anti-state violence witnessed an alarming surge.
According to a report released by an Islamabad-based independent think-tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province witnessed 75 per cent decline in militant attacks during the year whereas Balochistan saw the highest number of attacks. In all, 1,987 militants were killed in security forces’ actions and 6,347 suspects arrested.
The report says that the year 2015 witnessed 56 per cent decline in militant attacks from the year 2014 as deaths from attacks dropped by 48 per cent and the number of wounded by 57 per cent. A total of 706 militant attacks took place in 2015 in which 1,325 people were killed, including 619 civilians, 348 security personnel, 325 militants and 33 pro-government (razakars) volunteers. Among a total of 1,464 wounded were 988 militants, 417 security officials, 45 militants and 14 pro-government volunteers.
The report adds that Balochistan province saw the most number of attacks in 2015 as about 355 people were killed and 335 injured in a total of 280 militant attacks. Although Balochistan observed the highest number of attacks as compared to other provinces, there was a 41 percent decline in militant activities in the province from the year 2014, however, the number of resultant deaths was more than the previous year’s.
The country’s tribal belt were the second most hit as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) saw a total of 170 attacks in 2015. These attacks killed 396 people and wounded 431. However, the FATA witnessed 55 per cent decline in attacks and 56 per cent decline in deaths.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, terrorists carried out 139 attacks last year in which 224 people were killed and 253 injured. But still, this province witnessed considerable improvement in security situation as compared to the rest of the country with 70 per cent reduction in violence and 65 per cent downfall in resultant deaths.
In Sindh, 89 militant activities were recorded with 240 killed and 203 injured. After KPK, Sindh came up as much better province in terms of security situation where 64 per cent decline in violence was recorded, however, only 22 per cent reduction in deaths was observed.
In Punjab, the PICSS recorded 25 militant activities with 110 casualties and 243 wounded. There was 39 per cent reduction in violence in Punjab but no downfall was recorded in resultant deaths. This province remained bull’s eye for high profile attacks and suicide attacks were recorded mostly in Punjab than other provinces.
In 2015, security forces carried out 1,193 actions against militants in which 2,043 casualties were recorded. In these actions, 1,987 militants were killed while 22 civilians and 34 security forces personnel also lost their lives. About 6,347 suspected militants were arrested by security forces in the previous year.
In Balochistan, security forces carried out 399 actions in which 277 militants were killed while 2,478 suspected militants were arrested. The FATA saw 176 security forces actions in which 1,389 militants were killed and 325 arrested. However, in these actions 10 security personnel and 11 civilians also lost their lives.
In KPK, security forces made 1,925 arrests in a total of 250 actions, whereas 52 casualties were reported. These included 38 militants, eight security personnel and six civilians.
In Sindh, 218 security forces’ actions were recorded in which 231 died. These included 228 militants, two civilians and one security official.
Punjab had 127 security forces’ actions in which 59 casualties were reported, including 54 militants, three civilians and two security personnel. Also, 767 suspected militants were arrested.
In Islamabad Capital Territory, 188 arrests were made in 19 security forces’ actions. In Gilgit-Baltistan, 11 arrests were made in four raids by security forces.
