Pakistan sees massive 80% rise in terror attacks in 2023, averaging one attack after every 14 hours

Pakistan experienced a disconcerting year with an unprecedented surge in terror attacks, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Their recent report reveals a staggering 70% increase in attacks, an 81% rise in attack-related fatalities, and a 62% increase in injuries. In 2023 alone, the country witnessed 645 terror attacks, resulting in 976 deaths and 1,354 injuries – equating to an attack approximately every 14 hours. Comparing this to 2022, where there were 380 attacks, causing 539 deaths and 836 injuries, the escalation in deadly attacks in the past year is described as the deadliest in over half a decade. This surge has persisted since the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan. The Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, emphasized that the country’s security forces thwarted numerous attacks and attempts throughout the year, preventing an even higher toll. Attributed largely to the Pakistani Taliban, whose ideology aligns with their Afghan counterparts, the group reportedly operates from alleged hideouts in the Afghan border region, a claim denied by Kabul. The rise in Islamist militant violence is linked to the Afghan Taliban’s takeover in 2021. As a nuclear-armed Islamic republic with over 240 million inhabitants, Pakistan plays a pivotal role in China’s global market ambitions through the Belt and Road Initiative. The surge in attacks is perceived, in part, as a response to Chinese investments in Balochistan, where nationalist rebels challenge the state. With elections approaching next month, security analyst Fida Khan warns that the deadly attacks are anticipated to escalate further, amplifying concerns for the nation’s security landscape.