Islamabad: The PICSS Militancy Database shows that Pakistan saw a minor drop in militant attacks and their human toll in May 2023. However, the violence level in the first five months of the current year was much higher than the same period last year.
The database reported 40 militant attacks in May 2023 that took 48 lives and wounded 102 people. Security forces personnel accounted for half of the deaths (24) and more than half of the injuries (56), while civilians made up the rest (10 killed and 46 injured).
Pakistani security forces continue their operations against the militants during the month and killed at least 64 militants and arrested 39 others.
Database of Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) show that the first five months of 2022 recorded 126 militant attacks that killed 257 people and injured 461 others. In contrast, the first five months of 2023 recorded 224 attacks that killed 357 people and injured 615 others. This means that the first five months of 2023 saw a 77 percent increase in militant attacks, a 39 percent increase in deaths, and a 33 percent increase in injuries compared to the first five months of 2022.
The tribal districts of KP faced the most militancy in May 2023, with 18 attacks that killed 18 people and injured 27 others. Mainland KP faced 10 attacks that killed 16 people and injured 54 others. Balochistan faced 10 attacks that killed 12 people and injured 20 others. Sindh faced two attacks that killed two people and injured one.
PICSS also recorded four suicide attacks in May 2023, but they had a comparatively low human cost, as they only killed eight people and injured 40 others.
