The past year proved the deadliest for security forces in a decade, with 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
In a report, the organization said cumulative fatalities of civilians and security personnel stood at 1,612, compared to the 934 terrorists and outlaws slain in various operations. Overall, it said, Pakistan suffered 2,546 violence-linked fatalities, with 2,267 injured among civilians, security personnel, and militants from 1,166 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. It said there were 909 terror attacks against 257 security operations targeting militants.
The overall fatalities, per the report, were the highest since 2015 (4,366). On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily, with November emerging as the deadliest month compared to all other months of the year.
Regional disparity
The worst-hit province was Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which recorded 1,616 fatalities, followed by Balochistan with 782 fatalities. Combined, both KP and Balochistan accounted for 94% of all fatalities and 89% of all incidents across the country. Year-on-year, Balochistan saw a 90% surge in terror-related incidents, while KP saw a 65% boost. The report found a 260% surge in Islamabad, but noted this was an outlier, as the number of fatalities in the federal capital remained a comparatively low 26.
The highest number of violence and counter-violence-linked fatalities occurred in the erstwhile FATA districts, including Kurram, North Waziristan and Khyber. Significant fatalities were also recorded in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat. Balochistan’s Quetta, Kech, Kalat, and Musakhail districts also saw a significant number of fatalities.
Sectarian Violence
Sectarian violence in 2024 claimed 182 lives and injured 234 people. The majority of the victims were Shia Muslims, with 79 killed and 35 injured. The second-highest casualties occurred among Sunnis, who suffered 21 fatalities and 72 injuries. Incidents involving both Shia and Sunni communities resulted in 79 deaths and 117 injuries. Violence also claimed the lives of two Ahmadis and one Christian.
Historical trends
Comparing data for the past decade, the CRSS said there was a sharp downward trend from 2015 to 2020. In 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul, the trend started to reverse, with a 38% spike in violence that year compared to 2020.