![Terrorism-linked fatalities in Pakistan hit unprecedented levels in 2023: Think tank reports](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/7w3m29/article67640901.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/IMG_Pakistan_Taliban_Tak_2_1_GFC2QOLO.jpg)
Terrorism-linked fatalities in Pakistan hit unprecedented levels in 2023: Think tank reports
The Hindu
Pakistan recorded an unprecedented spike in terrorism-related violence in 2023, with the total violence-related fatalities reaching a record six-year high, especially in the restive provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to two think tank reports.
Pakistan recorded an unprecedented spike in terrorism-related violence in 2023, with the total violence-related fatalities reaching a record six-year high, especially in the restive provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to two think tank reports.
According to the annual security report prepared by the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 1,524 violence-related casualties and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations were recorded in Pakistan in 2023. Those killed included nearly 1,000 civilians and security forces personnel.
The total fatalities number marks a record six-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and the highest since 2017, the report said on December 31, 2023. The CRSS said there has been a surge in violence and terror attacks in the country every year since 2021.
It marked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as the main centres of violence, leading to 90% of all fatalities and 84% of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations, recorded during this period.
In contrast, the Punjab and Sindh provinces jointly witnessed only 8% fatalities in 2023. The report said that in 2023, the county recorded an alarming surge in violence of about 56% — an unprecedented escalation in the last 10 years — with the overall number of fatalities increasing from 980 in 2022 to 1,524 in 2023.
This includes a staggering 57% uptick in the Balochistan province and 55% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Punjab saw a 96% rise in violence, though the number of fatalities was very low, followed by Sindh, where the fatalities increased by 26%.