In a chilling revelation, the Islamabad-based independent Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) disclosed that Pakistan has witnessed a devastating surge in terrorist attacks, resulting in the loss of over 700 lives, both military personnel and civilians, in the first nine months of 2023.
The report, made public on Saturday, September 30th, highlights a disconcerting 19% rise in terrorist incidents compared to the previous year. The brunt of these attacks has been borne by two provinces bordering Afghanistan, where a staggering 92% of the total casualties occurred.
According to the report, Pakistan’s security forces suffered a severe blow, losing a minimum of 386 personnel. Among them, 137 were army soldiers and 208 were police officers, constituting 36% of the total casualties. This marks the highest number of security force casualties in the past eight years.
In a somber addition to the grim statistics, the CRSS report revealed that 33 paramilitary soldiers under the command of the Pakistani army also lost their lives in these attacks.
These alarming figures come in the aftermath of the most recent incident, an explosion that shook Balochistan, Pakistan, on Friday, September 29th. The blast, which occurred near Al-Falah Mosque in the Mastung region during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi festivities, claimed the lives of 52 individuals and left 50 others injured.
