Islamabad: In a disturbing trend, Pakistan has witnessed the highest number of suicide attacks in 2023 since 2014, with nearly half of these attacks targeting security forces, according to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
The data reveals a staggering 93% increase in the number of suicide attacks, a shocking 226% rise in resultant deaths, and a troubling 101% surge in the number of injured individuals compared to the preceding year, 2022. In total, 29 suicide attacks occurred in 2023, resulting in the tragic loss of 329 lives and leaving 582 individuals injured.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) bore the brunt of these attacks, reporting 23 instances that resulted in 254 fatalities and 512 injuries. Newly merged districts within KP experienced 13 suicide attacks, leading to 85 deaths and 206 injuries. Baluchistan faced five attacks, causing 67 deaths and 52 injuries, while Sindh witnessed one suicide attack resulting in eight deaths and 18 injuries.
The historical trajectory, as per PICSS’s militancy database, shows a notable decline in suicide attacks from 30 in 2014 to three in 2019. However, the year 2022 witnessed a sudden surge, recording 15 attacks resulting in 101 deaths and 290 injuries, and this worrisome trend has persisted into 2023.
Security forces were identified as the primary targets of these attacks, constituting 48% of deaths and 58% of injuries, with civilians being the second-largest victim category. The severity of the situation is underscored by the increase in the share of suicide attacks in the total number of attacks, rising from 3.9% in 2022 to 4.7% in 2023.