Pakistan saw 128 terrorist attacks in May, a 27% increase over the 101 of the previous month, according to a monthly security assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
In its monthly report, PICSS said the primary targets of the terrorist activities remained Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It noted that the uptick in May followed two months of decline, highlighting the persistent militant threats that continue to impact the country.
According to PICSS, May’s attacks resulted in the deaths of 71 civilians, 68 security personnel and six members of peace committees. Additionally, it said, 147 civilians, 35 security personnel and three peace committee members were injured. Comparing the figures to April, civilian fatalities increased from 37 to 71, 92% higher, while security personnel fatalities surged from 28 to 68, a 143% increase.
The report noted that of the 128 attacks in May, six were suicide attacks, including four vehicle-borne suicide bombings. These attacks, it said, caused the deaths of 34 security personnel and nine civilians. By comparison, April saw just one suicide attack.
Balochistan, per PICSS, was the most affected province, recording 71 terrorist attacks. In April, the province saw 34 attacks, showing a 109% increase. Additionally, per the report, 54 abductions were reported nationwide in May, of which 52 occurred in Balochistan.
May also saw intensifying intensified counterterrorism operations by security forces, with 270 militants killed and 15 others arrested. Of those killed, 128 were neutralized in the former FATA areas, 62 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 71 in Balochistan and one in Punjab.