Militant Attacks Surge by 40% in Pakistan

Pakistan witnessed a dramatic 40% rise in militant attacks in 2024, making it the deadliest year for security forces since 2015, according to an annual report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The report documented 905 militant incidents, resulting in 1,177 deaths and 1,292 injuries. Islamist terrorist groups accounted for 444 attacks, claiming 685 security personnel and 927 civilian lives.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group seeking to enforce Islamic Sharia law, was responsible for the majority of the violence.

The resurgence of the TTP follows its reorganization after the fall of Kabul to the Afghan Taliban in 2021. The group has inflicted severe losses, reversing gains made through military offensives launched in 2014.

Equally concerning is the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), responsible for the second-highest number of attacks in 2024.

The BLA has intensified its insurgency, seeking independence from Pakistan’s federal government and showcasing enhanced operational strategies and capabilities.

The escalating violence, largely attributed to militant networks allegedly operating from Afghan territory, underscores the fragile security landscape in the region.

CRSS noted that, on average, seven lives were lost daily in 2024, with civilians and security forces bearing over 63% of the fatalities.