Analysts assert that due to the upsurge in violent attacks in Pakistan, the government should swiftly develop a plan of action right away to ensure internal security. Terrorist Incidents have been on the rise as organisations are allegedly operating out of Afghanistan ever since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan insurgent group broke off its ceasefire with the government in late November and ramped up its operations across the country.
Balochistan:
This month (December, 2022), Balochistan in particular since eight days (19th-27th Dec) has experienced a wave of simultaneous terrorist attacks across several areas.
On 19th December, at least thirteen people were injured in a blast near the Umar Farooq Chowk in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district. In a Dawn report, Khuzdar SHO Muhammad Jan Sasoli, while confirming the blast stated that the explosive was attached to a motorcycle in the area.
Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and declared an emergency in hospitals across the city.”Terrorists who target innocent people are enemies of the nation. No religion or society gives permission for this bloodshed,” he said in a statement
On 20th December, a Levies soldier was martyred and another injured after unidentified armed militants attacked a checkpoint in Bhat area of Balochistan’s Kharan district. Kharan Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Musiani told Dawn News that almost twenty-five to thirty militants attacked the post.
Later on, 24th December, as per official, police sources confirmation (to Dawn News), two more incidents occurred, in which at least five security personnel belonging to the FC and Levies were martyred in Turbat and Chaman, respectively. The banned TTP took responsibility for the Chaman attack.
Last but not least, 25th December saw even more violence with multiple attacks taking place simultaneously on the same day:
On Quetta’s Sabzal Road, according to a statement issued by Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, at least four people were injured. In his statement, CM Bizenjo also directed police to continue intelligence-based operations against terrorists and “leave no stone unturned in taking the enemies of peace to task”. He further instructed that the best medical facilities be provided to the injured.
Later in the day, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Haq Umrani said that a policeman was injured along with seven others after a grenade attack on a police check post in the Chalo Bawari area of Quetta’s Satellite Town. He said the police had cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation.
In Lasbela SSP Dostain Dashti told Dawn that three people were injured from a grenade blast in front of Saddar police station in Hub.
Separately, Khuzdar SSP Fahad Khosa stated a police mobile was targeted in a grenade attack in Khuzdar district’s Jilani Chowk but no one was injured, adding that the vehicle and nearby shops were damaged in the attack.
In Kech district’s Turbat, the blast occurred in Taleemi Chowk. SSP Mohammad Baloch Turbat added that there were no injuries and the police were investigating the incident.
Furthermore, in Balochistan’s Kahan area, five security men were martyred including a captain, from an improvised explosive device (IED) during a clearance operation, the military’s media wing confirmed. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorist group took responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, one security personnel embraced martyrdom in the Sambaza area of Zhob, Balochistan, the ISPR said in another statement.
At least 15 people were injured in total from the (above mentioned) incidents in one day i.e. 25th December. The fact that half a dozen attacks, involving the use of explosives, took place on the same day should be a matter of grave concern for top security officials as well as elected leaders.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
KP has also recently seen a surge in terrorist attacks.
As per a Dawn Report, on Dec 18, 2022, four policemen were martyred when terrorists attacked a police station in Lakki Marwat, a district of Bannu division.
Then on Dec 19, an Intelligence Bureau sub-inspector was gunned down in Peshawar, while a suicide attack in North Waziristan claimed the lives of a soldier and two civilians.
Meanwhile, two beheaded bodies were found in a watercourse in KP’s Tank district. Police said a paper was found by the bodies that read: “It is a message from Taliban to everyone that spying would result in such a death.”
On Dec 20, following a three-day stand-off, SSG commandos stormed a compound and killed 25 TTP militants who took control of a CTD detention centre in Bannu. During the operation, 4 commandos were also martyred and 10-15 wereinjured.
Same day in Wanna, South Waziristan: Dozens of armed militants stormed a police station in Wana in the early hours of the day and escaped after looting arms and ammunition, police have confirmed. One police constable was injured, while an alleged militant was killed in the attack, sources said.
Furthermore, on 25th Dec, in Dera Ismail Khan, militants attacked a mobile van of the Kulachi police station with sophisticated weapons and attempted to blow up an armoured personnel carrier (APC) of the police with an improvised explosive device in separate incidents.
PM Shehbaz particularly condemned the recent incidents of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has seen a significant rise in terror activities since the militant Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) called an end to its ceasefire with the government. He also stated that the federal government will work in collaboration with the KP government to restructure its CTD and offered all facilities to support the department, including modern weapons.
