Terrorism-linked fatalities in Pakistan hit unprecedented levels in 2023: 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.

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%.