November 6, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
In October 2024, there were 48 terrorist strikes nationwide, compared to 45 in the previous month. There were 100 fatalities from these attacks, up from 54 the previous month, and 80 wounded. Of the 100 people killed, 52 were law enforcement and security officers, 36 were civilians, and 12 were militants.
Up to 35 terrorist attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), nine in Balochistan, and two in each of the provinces of Punjab and Sindh . The information highlights a concerning growth in the reach and power of militants, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
Khyber Pukhtunkhwa
KP witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist attacks in October 2024. The number of attacks surged by 30%, reaching 35 incidents, with a devastating 89% increase in casualties, resulting in 64 deaths and 40 injuries.
Around 64 people were killed in the 35 attacks that were reported in KP, including several significant ones in Bannu, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan, and Orakzai.
The attacks, carried out by groups like TTP, Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-e-Islam, and local Taliban factions, were concentrated in Bannu (8 attacks), twin Waziristan districts (7 attacks), Lakki Marwat (4 attacks), Kurram and Tank (3 attacks each). This expansion of violence to 15 districts, compared to 10 in September, highlights the growing geographical reach of terrorism in the province.
The attacks were mostly carried out on security/law enforcement agencies (personnel, convoys, posts) and civilians, followed by political leaders/workers, health/polio workers, security escorts, development, exploration projects, companies, and workers.
Balochistan
Balochistan saw a decrease in the number of terrorist attacks in October 2024 compared to September, dropping from 17 to 9. However, the intensity of these attacks increased, leading to 30 fatalities, a significant rise from the previous month’s 19.
The majority of the casualties, 27 civilians and 3 FC officials, were a result of a single attack in Duki that claimed the lives of 21 mine workers.
Groups like the BLA, BLF, and other unspecified Baloch insurgent groups were responsible for eight attacks, causing 30 deaths and 20 injuries. The TTP carried out one attack, injuring four people.
Security forces and law enforcement personnel faced three terrorist attacks, while two attacks targeted development and exploration firs and their workers. Political leaders, tribal elders, and civilians were hit in other reported sporadic attacks.
As many as 26 labourers and miners lost their lives in two attacks on them in Duki and Panjgur.
In one of the worst attacks on labourers and development workers in Balochistan, militants killed 21 mine workers in cold blood. Another six miners were injured in an attack by 30-40 armed men on at a mines area of a private company in Balochistan’s Duki area. Those killed included 3 Afghan nationals and others resident of Balochistan’s mainly Pashtun-populated areas. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but BLA has conducted such attacks in the past.27
In another similar attack, militants opened fire on laborers working on an under-construction dam in the Parome area of Panjgur, killing five and injuring two others.
Sindh & Punjab
Two attacks happened in Sindh including a major attack in Karachi, which targeted Chinese nationals. These attacks claimed the lives of four people, including two Chinese, and injured 16 others.
In Karachi, three people, including two Chinese engineers, were killed and at least 17 others injured when a massive explosion occurred near the Karachi airport; one of the injured died a week later. The banned BLA claimed the attack saying its bomber Shah Fahad alias Aftab struck an explosive laden vehicle into the convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company.36
Separately, in Larkana district of Sindh, the residence of senior PPP leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in the Rehmatpur locality of Larkana came under attack when two unknown persons lobbed a cracker and rode away. The low-intensity explosive device did not cause any casualty or any major damage to the house.
Karachi also witnessed sectarian violence in Awami Colony, leaving six injured, including one fatality. The ASWJ claimed the deceased as their member. Additionally, a clash between a religious party’s protesters and police in Saddar injured 10 officers. In Punjab, two attacks occurred in Mianwali and Sahiwal, resulting in the death of two militants.
In Mianwali, the police repulsed two attacks by a group of 10-12 militants on two police stations and forced the militants to flee after one hour of intense exchange of fire.40 Mianwali borders on southern KP districts where the TTP and other allied groups are quite active.
In Sahiwal, two captured terrorists, including the mastermind of 2021 Dasu bombing that claimed the lives of nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis, were killed in an ambush on Sahiwal-Faisalabad Road.
CHALLENGES & THREATS
Recent terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, indicate a concerning expansion of militant influence. November 2024 saw a surge in attacks, with 100 fatalities and 48 incidents across all four provinces. While KP and Balochistan remain the primary operational zones, attacks in Punjab and Sindh suggest a broader strategic intent. The BLA’s targeting of Chinese nationals in Karachi highlights a focus on destabilizing economic partnerships, while the TTP’s expansion into Balochistan’s Pashtun belt and Punjab’s border districts indicates a territorial push. The intensified security response, though proactive, underscores the widespread nature of militant activity. This alarming trend necessitates a coordinated, comprehensive security strategy, coupled with community engagement, to counter the growing threat and prevent further escalation.
The Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade, a highly trained suicide unit, claimed responsibility for the recent Karachi airport attack. The group has a history of targeting Pakistani military installations, economic interests, and CPEC projects, particularly Chinese targets. Since 2017, the BLA has carried out 10 attacks on Chinese individuals and interests in Pakistan, including the 2018 consulate attack and the 2022 university attack. The timing of the Karachi airport attack, just before the SCO meeting, highlights the BLA’s aim to attract international attention. While the Pakistani state has made efforts to counter the BLA, the lack of public trust and ongoing grievances against the state continue to fuel the insurgency. A comprehensive approach, combining military force with a political strategy to address the root causes of the conflict, is necessary to effectively combat the BLA and prevent future attacks.
Militant violence, primarily driven by the TTP, has escalated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this month. Major attacks occurred in DI Khan, Bannu, North Waziristan, and Orakzai, with the TTP claiming the DI Khan attack as retaliation for a recent military operation in Bajaur. The intensity of violence has expanded beyond traditional hotspots to areas like Dir, Kurram, and Orakzai. Additionally, the TTP and LI are exploiting the Tirah Valley’s reliance on cannabis and poppy cultivation, demanding a share of profits from local dealers. Despite ongoing counter-terrorism operations, militants remain active in the region, benefiting from cross-border support from Afghanistan.
A local committee is working to improve relations between residents and law enforcement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, this effort is overshadowed by the surge in militant attacks. The violence, particularly concerning amidst political and economic turmoil, has disrupted polio vaccination efforts. While security forces fight the threat, long-term success hinges on two things: gaining trust from local communities and establishing better cooperation with Afghanistan to deal with cross-border militants.
PROTESTS & RALLIES BY CIVIL SOCIETY
A local committee in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is working to improve community-police relations, but the ongoing surge in militant violence is hindering these efforts. The political and economic instability, coupled with security concerns, has disrupted polio vaccination campaigns. Security forces are actively combating the threat, but long-term success depends on gaining community trust and better cooperation with Afghanistan to address cross-border militancy.
The government’s ban on the PTM and the Pakhtun Ulasi Pasoon protests highlight the growing discontent among the Pakhtun population. They are demanding an end to violence and seeking justice for victims of human rights abuses. Additionally, tribal communities are forming peace militias to resist militant groups, as seen in Bannu and Lakki Marwat. These developments underscore the complex security landscape in the region and the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the challenges posed by militancy and sectarian violence.