ISLAMABAD: Despite the announcement of an indefinite ceasefire by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), militant attacks increased in July as compared to June.

According to statistics released by an Islamabad-based think-tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), in July militants carried out 33 attacks in which 34 people were died, including 17 security forces personnel, and 46 people were injured, including 34 security forces personnel.

However, in June, the militants carried out 26 attacks in which 36 people were killed and 26 injured.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), PICSS has recorded a 400pc increase in militant attacks compared to June 2022.

In July, 12 militant attacks were reported in which 12 people were killed, including 10 security forces personnel, while 13 others sustained injuries including 10 army personnel.

34 people killed in 33 attacks, think-tank’s statistics say

In June, the province had witnessed only three militant attacks in which three people were killed.

A newly-formed militant outfit ‘Ittehad Musallah Islami Mujahideen (IMAM)’ claimed responsibility for one of the attacks.

In response to an increase in militant attacks, security has been beefed up in the province. In a security forces action reported from KP, three alleged militants were apprehended.

In the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the report recorded a slight increase in militant attacks compared to June while in July, 14 militant attacks were reported compared to 12 in June.

In July, 16 people were killed in erstwhile Fata, including three security forces personnel, while 23 sustained injuries including 18 security forces personnel.

The TTP has not claimed responsibility for any militant attack in the region.

Action of six security forces were reported from erstwhile Fata in which 13 alleged militants were killed and four others apprehended.

In Balochistan, security forces carried out three major operations against Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and killed 17 alleged militants in response to their involvement in the kidnapping and killing of Lt-Col Laiq of the Pakistan Army.

Seven militant attacks were also reported in the province in which six people were killed including four security forces personnel while 10 sustained injuries.

In Sindh, two security forces actions were reported in which three alleged militants were apprehended.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022