A new report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reveals a concerning surge in militant attacks across Pakistan during the month of May. The report documents 85 attacks, a 5% increase compared to the 81 recorded in April, resulting in a total of 172 deaths and 194 injuries.
The May attacks claimed the lives of 113 people, including 52 security personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members. A further 182 people were injured, with 130 civilians, 47 security personnel, four militants, and one peace committee member sustaining injuries. This represents a significant increase in civilian casualties, with a 145% rise in civilian injuries compared to April (from 53 to 130). While injuries among security personnel decreased by 20% (from 59 to 47), deaths among security personnel rose dramatically by 73%.
Security forces also conducted their own operations during May, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 militants and five security personnel. Seven security personnel and five militants sustained injuries during these operations. Additionally, security forces arrested 52 suspected militants.
The overall casualty toll for May, encompassing both militant attacks and security force operations, reached 172 deaths (57 security personnel, 65 militants, 46 civilians, and four peace committee members) and 194 injuries (130 civilians, 54 security personnel, nine militants, and one peace committee member). The report also notes that militants abducted at least 19 individuals during the month.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) bore the brunt of the violence, accounting for 82 of the 85 attacks. Balochistan experienced the most intense violence, with 35 attacks resulting in 51 deaths (30 civilians, 18 security personnel, and three militants) and 100 injuries (94 civilians, five security personnel, and one militant). In the merged tribal districts of KP, 22 attacks caused 45 deaths (23 security personnel, 12 civilians, six militants, and four peace committee members) and 58 injuries (30 security personnel, 27 civilians, and one peace committee member).
KP also saw a further 25 attacks outside the merged tribal districts, resulting in 14 deaths (10 security personnel, two civilians, and two militants). Sindh reported three attacks, with two civilian and one security personnel fatality. No attacks were reported in Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, or Gilgit-Baltistan.
