ISLAMABAD - At least 52 militant activities were recorded in last month as compared to 57 militant activities in June 2015.
A monthly security assessment report published by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) on Tuesday revealed that overall 141 incidents related to anti-state violence by the militants and counter-insurgency operations by the state were monitored in July 2015 that caused 149 deaths, including 99 militants, and injuries to 68 others. The report said that out of 141 overall incidents, 52 were militant activities, which caused 96 deaths. The statistics said that militants’ capabilities to launch organised attacks against security forces and general public have greatly abridged.
Since January, 2015 a constant trend of decline was observed until April 2015 while violence slightly went up in May 2015. However, since June 2015 reduction in violence has been visible. This reduction in violence is due to constant vigil of the security forces and continued insecurity among the militant groups who feel threatened due to across the board action by the security forces.
The report said 143 overall incidents of violence, including militants’ attacks and security forces actions, were observed in June as compared to 162 in May 2015. In 143 incidents in June, 406 people were killed while 113 others injured. In July, this number has come down to 141 overall violent incidents with 149 deaths and with 68 injuries, suggesting a marked decrease in number of deaths as well as decrease in number of injuries. Among 143 overall incidents in June 2015, 57 were militant activities in which 116 people were killed while 64 others injured.
Not only reduction in overall violent incidents was observed but also noted number of arrests were made in these two months. In June 2015, 459 arrests were made by security forces while in July 2015 this figure was 343.
In Punjab, 2 violent incidents were recorded, including a major incident of killing Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Chief Malik Ishaq along with his two sons and other militants in a police encounter near Muzaffargarh.
In Sindh, marked reduction was observed as 3 violent incidents were recorded. Successful ongoing Karachi operation and during the month of Ramadan ban on collecting Fitrana and Zakat openly by certain organisations also helped to keep check on violence in the port city and other vicinities. In Islamabad Capital Territory, no violent activity was observed. In Balochistan, situation remained almost same as 21 militant activities were recorded in the province and 167 suspects were arrested while seven IED blasts and seven incidents of target killing were recorded in July 2015. It is significant that in Balochistan great number of militant leaders were arrested which shows seriousness of security forces to counter militancy in best possible way.
In FATA, 13 militant activities were observed as compared to 16 militant activities in June 2015. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 militant activities were observed in July as compared to 12 incidents recorded in June 2015. Out of 26 militant actions recorded both in FATA and KP, nine IEDs and nine militant assaults were noted.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in July claimed four attacks, including killing of a member of peace committee who was attacked in Bajaur Agency. One of major incident was target killing of ANP leader Dost Muhammad Khan alias Khan Baba who was gunned down in party’s office in Charsadda district of KP. The other attacks were carried on security forces personnel.