July Sees Surge in Anti-State Violence with 108 Dead and 71 Injured
Islamabad, August 1, 2024: After a slight decline in militant attacks in June, July saw a resurgence in anti-state violence in Pakistan. Statistics released by the Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), reveal that July 2024 witnessed 79 militant attacks resulting in 108 deaths and 71 injuries.
Compared to June 2024, there was a 14 percent increase in attacks and a staggering 80 percent rise in fatalities. The number of injured rose by 9 percent.ICT Export Remittances Surge to $3.2b in FY 24
In response to the growing threat, Pakistani security forces eliminated at least 50 militants during July, marking a 56 percent increase in militant deaths compared to June 2024.
According to PICSS statistics, the majority of militant attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its newly merged tribal districts (formerly FATA). Mainland KP experienced 36 attacks, resulting in 60 deaths and 27 injuries.
In the tribal districts of KP, 30 people were killed and 18 injured in 26 militant attacks. Balochistan witnessed 12 militant attacks, causing 12 deaths and 24 injuries. Sindh faced five attacks, resulting in six deaths and two injuries. No militant attacks were reported in Punjab, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The most significant arrest of the month was made by Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department, which apprehended Al-Qaeda leader Aminul Haq on July 18. He was considered a close associate of Al-Qaeda’s founder, Osama Bin Laden. Pakistani security forces also eliminated at least six key TTP commanders in various intelligence-based operations.
These include Commander Najeeb alias Abdur Rehman and Commander Ishfaq alias Muavia in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber tribal district, Commander Irfan Ullah alias Adnan in Bajour, Commander Shah Faisal in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, Commander Noor Rahman in North Waziristan, and TTP’s shadow governor of Peshawar, Commander Abdur Raheem, in Peshawar.