ISLAMABAD: Pakistan continued to face a range of internal security issues in 2015, resulting in various forms of violence.

However, with the enactment of the National Action Plan (NAP), there seemed to be some semblance of a coordinated state response to criminal and terrorist activity.

This information was provided in the report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) on Friday.

According to the report, it was difficult to establish a direct correlation between NAP and the apparent decrease in violence-related fatalities, even though the decline had been pronounced and significant.

It said the major source of fatalities in 2015 were terrorism, militant attacks, targeted killings and security operations. A total 4,654 people died in 2015, down from 7,611 deaths in 2014 - a major decline in violence-related fatalities.

Regionally, the decrease in overall fatalities was attributed by the report to a sharp decrease in violence-related fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The report stated that the rate of fatalities in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), KP, Balochistan and Sindh had declined.

However, it said the security situation in Punjab had become volatile as evidenced by the killing of Malik Ishaq, the leader of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi by the Punjab police, and the killing of home minister Shuja Khanzada in retaliation. According to the report, Punjab was the only province to record an increased rate of violence-related fatalities.

Security situation improved

Because of Operation Zarb-i-Azb, terror attacks witnessed a 56pc decline in 2015. There was a 48pc reduction in the resultant deaths and a 57pc decline in the number of people injured.

These figures were revealed in an annual ‘monitor’ released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

It said 706 terror attacks took place during the year, in which 1,325 people were killed - 619 civilians, 348 security forces personnel, 325 militants and 33 pro-government razakars.

Moreover, 1,464 people were injured which included 988 civilians, 417 security forces personnel, 45 militants and 14 pro-government razakars.

“In 2015, Pakistan’s security situation improved greatly as the level of terror activities reduced to below the level of 2008 when a new wave of terrorism started and saw an upward trend.”

PICSS managing director Abdullah Khan told Dawn that though as a whole an improvement was seen in the security situation and the maximum result of using the armed forces achieved, some steps were still required.

“Time has come to eradicate terrorism and extremism by taking socio-economic steps, creating awareness among the citizens besides administrative and political decisions and indigenous counter-narratives.” he said.

“Once we had a moderate society but now it has been polarised.

The radical section has hijacked the religion and is using it for its own goals.

So we have to defeat them on the ideological front.”

Mr Khan regretted that so far no decision could be taken about the status of Fata.

The policy of reconciliation was very good for Balochistan but during the last quarter of the year anti-state activities have increased in the province.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2016