Terrorism Watch: July witnesses rise in terrorist attacks but decline in human loss

KP province overtakes as epicentre of terrorism from Balochistan in a major shift in attacks

ISLAMABAD: Although July 2021 witnessed highest number of militant attacks in a single month in Pakistan during the ongoing year, the number of deaths slightly declined compared with June and May 2021.
According to the statistics released by an Islamabad-based independent think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the institute recorded 25 militant attacks in July 2021 which claimed lives of 33 people including 24 civilians and 9 security forces personnel.
54 were injured including 36 civilians and 18 security forces personnel. While in June 2021, PICSS had recorded 22 militant attacks in which 42 people were killed and 56 others were injured. The number deaths also declined in July as compared with May as in May 41 people were killed.
The highest number of militant attacks were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where ten militant attacks were carried out which claimed 20 lives including 16 civilians and six security forces personnel.
35 others were injured including 29 civilians and six security forces personnel. It appeared that the epicenter of militant attacks shifted this month from Balochistan region to KP.
Tribal districts of KP (Erstwhile FATA) also witnessed nine militant attacks in which ten people were killed including seven civilians and three security forces personnel while three others security forces personnel injured.
Four militant attacks were carried out in Balochistan which claimed lives of two security forces personnel while 15 others were injured including nine security forces personnel and six civilians.
Sindh witnessed two militant attack in which one civilian was killed and one other was injured. While Punjab province, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), witnessed no militant attack.
As per the PICSS report, out of these 25 militant attacks, ten IED-based attacks were carried out in which 18 people were killed including 16 civilians and two security forces personne.
51 others were injured including 34 civilians and 17 security forces personnel.
Ten targets-killing attacks were carried out in which ten people were killed including seven civilians and three security forces personnel while two other civilians were injured.
Three grenade attack were also reported in which one security forces personnel was killed and one civilian was injured. One incident of physical assault was recorded in result of which three security forces personnel were killed and one security forces personnel was injured. Similarly, one kidnapping attempt was reported which resulted in one civilian death. No suicide attack or kidnapping incident was reported during the month.
During the month of July, 17 security forces actions were reported in which 13 militants were killed while 11 suspected militants were apprehended.
Four security forces personnel were also killed in these operations. The highest number of security forces actions were reported from erstwhile FATA where five notable security forces actions were monitored in which three militants were killed.
Four security forces operations were monitored in KPK where three militants were killed and two others suspected militants were arrested.
Three security forces actions were reported from Punjab and Sindh and in result of these security forces actions four and five suspected militants were arrested respectively.
Balochistan witnessed two security forces actions in which eight people were killed including seven militants and one security forces personnel.
Mian Abrar
Mian Abrar
The writer heads Pakistan Today's Islamabad Bureau. He has a special focus on counter-terrorism and inter-state relations in Asia, Asia Pacific and South East Asia regions. He tweets as @mian_abrar and also can be reached at [email protected]

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