Pakistan witnessed a significant improvement in several key security indicators during October, with terrorist attacks declining by 37 per cent compared with September, it emerged on Sunday.
asserted
it → witness → Sunday
The improvement was particularly pronounced in Balochistan and mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while suicide attacks also declined substantially.
asserted
attacks → pronounce → Balochistan
However, an increase in kidnappings, particularly in Balochistan, remained a major area of concern.
asserted
increase → remain → concern
According to statistics released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country experienced 143 terrorist attacks during October, compared with 226 in September.
uncertain
country → accord → September
The decline reversed two consecutive months of increasing terrorist violence and marked a notable improvement in the security situation following September’s heightened level of attacks.
asserted
decline → reverse → attacks
Data showed that terrorist attacks claimed 111 lives in October, compared with 260 in September, representing a reduction of 57pc.
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attacks → show → 57pc
The number of people injured in these attacks dropped even more sharply, from 242 to just 69, a decline of 71pc.
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number → injure → 71pc
The improvement was also reflected in the overall human cost of violence.
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improvement → reflect → violence
According to PICSS, terrorist attacks and security forces’ counterterrorism operations collectively resulted in 272 deaths and 71 injuries during October.
uncertain
attacks → accord → October
Those killed included 53 security forces personnel, five peace committee members, 45 civilians, and 169 terrorists.
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Those → kill → personnel
The injured included 29 security forces personnel, 11 peace committee members, and 31 civilians.
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injured → injure → personnel
A rolling 12-month comparison conducted by PICSS revealed several encouraging developments.
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comparison → roll → developments
Injuries resulting from terrorist attacks fell to their lowest monthly level in the past year.
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Injuries → result → year
The combined number of injuries from terrorist attacks and security operations also reached a 12-month low, as did injuries among security forces personnel.
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injuries → reach → personnel
The number of suicide attacks was jointly the lowest recorded during the same period.
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number → record → period
However, the number of terrorists killed, at 169, was also the lowest monthly figure in the past 12 months, reflecting a decline in terrorist fatalities, the report noted.
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report → kill → fatalities
Suicide attacks declined sharply during October, with only one such incident, compared with three in September.
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attacks → decline → September
The October incident involved a vehicle-borne suicide attack but caused no fatalities or injuries.
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incident → involve → fatalities
In contrast, the three suicide attacks recorded in September, including two vehicle-borne attacks, resulted in 45 deaths and 138 injuries.
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attacks → record → deaths
Consequently, fatalities and injuries from suicide attacks both declined by 100pc during October.
asserted
fatalities → decline → October
According to PICSS, continued counterterrorism operations across the country by security forces resulted in the killing of 156 terrorists and the arrest of seven suspected terrorists during October.
uncertain
operations → accord → October
Two security forces personnel and three civilians lost their lives during these operations, while two security forces personnel were injured.
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personnel → lose → operations
Balochistan recorded one of the most significant improvements, with terrorist attacks declining by 46pc, from 132 in September to 71 in October.
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attacks → record → October
Fatalities from terrorist attacks dropped from 136 to 44, representing a reduction of approximately 68pc, while injuries declined from 63 to 37, a decrease of 41pc.
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injuries → drop → 41pc
Separately, security forces’ operations in the province resulted in the killing of 79 terrorists.
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operations → result → terrorists
Three civilians lost their lives, and two security forces personnel were injured during these operations.
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personnel → lose → operations
In October, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had confirmed that an army major was martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Balochistan.
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major → confirm → Balochistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Mainland KP, excluding the formerly federally administered tribal areas, also witnessed a substantial improvement.
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KP → administer → improvement
PICSS reported 40 terrorist attacks in October, compared with 58 in September, representing a decline of 31pc.
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PICSS → report → 31pc
Fatalities from these attacks decreased from 90 to 38, a reduction of approximately 58pc, while injuries fell from 165 to 19, an improvement of 88pc.
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injuries → decrease → 88pc
Counterterrorism operations in the region resulted in the killing of 42 terrorists, while two security forces personnel lost their lives.
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personnel → result → lives
The erstwhile FATA region experienced a comparatively modest decline in terrorist violence, the report said.
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report → experience → violence
The think tank recorded 30 attacks during October, compared with 34 in September, a reduction of 12pc.
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tank → record → 12pc
Deaths resulting from terrorist attacks declined from 33 to 25, while injuries increased slightly from 11 to 13.
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injuries → result → 13
Security forces’ operations in these districts resulted in the killing of 35 terrorists.
asserted
operations → result → terrorists
Sindh and Punjab
Punjab witnessed two terrorist attacks during October, compared with none in September.
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Sindh → witness → September
These incidents resulted in four deaths and no injuries.
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incidents → result → deaths
Sindh recorded no terrorist attacks during the month.
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Sindh → record → month
However, counterterrorism operations in the province resulted in the arrest of seven suspected terrorists.
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operations → result → terrorists
Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan also remained free of recorded terrorist attacks during October.
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Islamabad → remain → October
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
