Militant violence surged 27pc in May: PICSS

The latest findings by PICSS suggest that militant and terror groups regained momentum during May after a brief period of relative decline, particularly in KP and Balochistan. The sharp increase in attacks, casualties, suicide bombings and kidnappings indicates that security challenges remain acute despite sustained counterterrorism efforts by the state. According to the report, the country witnessed 128 terrorist attacks during May, compared to 101 attacks in April, representing a 27 per cent increase. The rise reversed the downward trend observed during the previous two months and underscored the persistent security challenges confronting conflict-affected regions of the country. The increase in militant violence resulted in significantly higher casualties. During May, 71 civilians, 68 security personnel and six members of peace committees were killed, while 147 civilians, 35 security personnel and three peace committee members were injured. Compared to April, civilian fatalities increased from 37 to 71, representing a 92 per cent rise, while security personnel fatalities surged from 28 to 68, marking a 143pc increase. One of the most alarming developments highlighted in the report was the sharp increase in suicide attacks. The country witnessed six suicide attacks during May, including four vehicle-borne suicide bombings. These attacks alone resulted in the deaths of