Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Conflict and Peace Studies

VOLUME 16 January 2024 NUMBER 1

PAKISTAN SECURITY REPORT 2023

PAK INSTITUTE FOR PEACE STUDIES (PIPS)

2
 A PIPS Research Journal
Conflict and Peace Studies

Copyright © PIPS 2024 All Rights Reserved

No part of this journal may be reproduced in any form by photocopying or by any electronic
or mechanical means, including information storage or retrieval systems, without prior
permission in writing from the publisher of this journal.

Editorial Advisory Board

Khaled Ahmed Dr. Muhammad Khalid Masud

Consulting Editor, Former Chairman of the Council of Islamic
The Friday Times, Lahore, Pakistan Ideology in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Saeed Shafqat Dr. Catarina Kinnvall

Director, Centre for Public Policy and Department of Political Science, Lund
Governance, Forman Christian College, University, Sweden.
Lahore, Pakistan.

Marco Mezzera Dr. Adam Dolnik

Former Senior Adviser, Norwegian Professor of Counterterrorism, George C.
Peacebuilding Resource Marshall European Center for ecurity
Centre / Norsk Ressurssenter for Studies,
Fredsbygging, Norway. Germany.

Prof. Dr. Syed Farooq Hasnat Tahir Abbas

Pakistan Study Centre, University of the Professor of Sociology, Fatih University,
Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Istanbul, Turkey.

Anatol Lieven Rasul Bakhsh Rais

Professor, Department of War Studies, Professor, Political Science,
King's College, London, United Kingdom. Lahore University of Management Sciences
Lahore, Pakistan.

Peter Bergen Dr. Tariq Rahman

Senior Fellow, New American Foundation, Dean, School of Education, Beaconhouse
Washington D.C., USA. National University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) ISSN -----------

Post Box No. 2110, Price: Rs 1000.00
Islamabad, Pakistan US$ 30.00
+92-51-8359475-6 The views expressed are the authors' own
www.pakpips.com, and do not necessarily reflect any positions
[email protected] held by the institute.
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Overview of Security in 2023: Critical Challenges

1 and Recommendations

2 Security Landscape of Pakistan in 2023

3 Militant Landscape of Pakistan in 2023

4 State Responses

How Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Practitioners See

5 the TTP Threat

6 Profile: Balochistan Liberation Army

Annexes

4
 LIST OF ACRONYMS

AJK Azad Jammu and Kashmir ISPR Inter-Services Public

ASI Assistant Sub Inspector Relations
ASWJ Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat JUI-F Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl
BLA Balochistan Liberation Army KP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
BLF Balochistan Liberation Front NADR National Database and
BNA Baloch Nationalist Army A Registration Authority
BRA Baloch Republican Army NAP National Action Plan
BRAS Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar NCTD National Counter Terrorism
BRG Baloch Republican Guards Department
BSF Border Security Force NSC National Security Committee
CPEC China Pakistan Economic PAF Pakistan Air Force
Corridor PBUH Peace Be Upon Him
CT Counter Terrorism PHP Punjab Highway Patrol
CTD Counter Terrorism PIPS Pak Institute for Peace
Department Studies
CTFC Counter-Terrorism Financing PMDC Pakistan Mineral
Commission Development Corporation
CTFU Counter Terrorist Financing PML-N Pakistan Muslim League
Unit (Nawaz)
DI Dera Ismail Khan PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Khan SHO Station House Officer
DPO District Police Officer SP Superintendent of Police
DSP Deputy Superintendent of SRA Sindhudesh Revolutionary
Police Army
FATA Federally Administered Tribal SSP Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
Areas SWAT Special Weapons And Tactics
FC Frontier Corps TIR Transports Internationaux
GB Gilgit Baltistan Routier
HGB Hafiz Gul Bahadur TJP Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan
HITS Hunt, Impede, Thwart and TLP Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan
Serve, TTP Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
IED Improvised Explosive Device UBA United Baloch Army
IG Inspector General UN United Nations
IS-K Islamic State-Khorasan US United States
ISI Inter-Services Intelligence
ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria
ISPP Islamic State Province of
Pakistan
 METHODOLOGY AND VARIABLES
The PIPS conflict/security database and archives are the basic sources relied upon for this
report. The archives and the database are the outcome of a meticulous monitoring process on
every relevant incident in the country on a daily basis. A regular follow up is conducted in
liaison with PIPS correspondents in the regions in order to keep track of daily developments
on such incidents. PIPS compiles data from sources including newspapers, magazines, journals,
field sources and screening of official record. More than 30 English and Urdu dailies, magazines,
and journals, and various television news channels are monitored to update the database and
archives. Regional daily newspapers and weeklies from Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit and Karachi
are also monitored for details of incidents reported in the local media. Correspondents in
provincial capitals are the primary source for PIPS to verify the media reports. In case of a
major incident, PIPS teams consult the local administration and journalists for further details.
In cases where PIPS finds it difficult to verify facts of a particular incident, it gives preference
to the official statements in that regard.

PIPS security reports utilize eight major variables with their respective set of sub-variables for
analysis of the security situation in Pakistan. The security landscape is mapped through a
combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative methods are used, based
on PIPS Conflict and Security Database, to measure the scale and level of violence. Meanwhile,
the qualitative approach dilates upon changes and developments on the militants’ front, state
responses to these developments and projections of future scenarios. The following eight
major variables with their sub-sets of variable are used in the PIPS Security Reports:

1. Attacks: This major variable has a sub-set of five sub-variables i.e. (i) terrorist attacks
including militant attacks, nationalist insurgent attacks and sectarian-related attacks; (ii)
incidents of ethno-political violence; (iii) cross-border attacks; (iv) drone attacks; and (v)
operational attacks by security forces against militants. Since Pakistan’s security landscape is
very complicated with a diverse array of insecurity indicators in different parts of the country,
the type of violence in one geographical unit is often different in its nature and dynamics from
security landscape in other parts of the country. For this purpose the mentioned sub-set of
variables is carefully monitored and analyzed in the security report with a view to suggest
specific counter-strategy for each type of attack in these areas.

2. Clash: Another variable used is of clashes which include four sub-variables, i.e., (i) inter-
tribal; (ii) sectarian; (iii) clashes between security forces and militants; and (iv) militants’
infightings. The number of such clashes and their geographic location is taken as an indicator
of parallel trends unfolding simultaneously with major trends and patterns of security in
different areas of the country.

3. State Reponses: It has two sub-variables: (i) security measures, and (ii) political and
administrative responses. The first takes into account the security forces’ operational attacks
and clashes with militants, search and hunt operations and terrorists’ arrests, etc. The second
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

variable entails the government’s political and administrative measures to maintain law and
order and reduce insecurity and violence.

4. Casualties: Casualties include both the number of people killed and injured. Casualties
among civilians, militants and security forces are treated as another indicator to measure the
levels and trends of security in the country.

5. Attack Tactics: This head takes a comprehensive account of various tactics used by
different actors including suicide attacks, missile attacks, hand grenade attacks, kidnappings,
rocket attacks, beheadings, landmine blasts, firing, sabotage, target killings, and bomb and
improvised explosive devices blasts.

6. Development on Militants’ Front: This variable analyzes statements, activities, internal

divisions and other activities of militants to determine their strength and the dynamics of their
strategies.

7. Opportunities and Challenges: include political measures and military responses to

different security issues along with highlighting constraints and challenges encountered by the
state.

8. Claim of Responsibility: It provides insight into militants’ targets, tactics, areas of

operation, and agendas.

8
 GLOSSARY
Military Operation: Large-scale operations launched by military and paramilitary forces
against Islamist militants and separatist insurgents in KP, FATA and Balochistan to preserve
law and order and the writ of the state.

Operational Attack: Pre-emptive attacks launched by military and paramilitary troops to

purge an area of militants.

Clashes between Security Forces and Militants: Armed clashes between security forces
and militants, triggered by militants’ attack on security check posts/ convoys and confrontation
during search operations.

Terrorist Attacks: Include militant, nationalist, insurgent and sectarian attacks.

Indiscriminate use of violence by militant outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) etc., manifested through suicide attacks,
beheadings and destruction of educational institutions, CD/video shops, etc.

Nationalist Insurgent Attacks: Attacks by separatists/nationalist insurgents mainly in

Balochistan and interior parts of Sindh.

Sectarian Attacks: Indiscriminate use of violence rooted in differences among various

Islamic schools of thought over interpretation of religious commands. Incidents involving
indiscriminate use of violence perpetrated by banned sectarian outfits such as LeJ, Tehreek-e-
Jafria, Imamia Student Organization (ISO), Sipah-e-Muhammad, etc., against rival schools of
religious thought.

Ethno-political Violence: The threat or use of violence, often against the civilian population,
to achieve political or social ends, to intimidate opponents, or to publicize grievances.

Inter-tribal Clash: Clashes or feuds reported between tribes, mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Balochistan, rural areas of Punjab and parts of interior Sindh.

Search and Hunt Operation: Launched by law enforcement agencies on intelligence to

capture militants or to purge a particular locality of suspected militants and their hideouts.

Sectarian Clashes: Violent clashes between armed factions of banned sectarian outfits or
between followers of rival sects such as Sunni-Shia, Deobandi-Barelvi strife. Sectarian clashes
also include tribal feuds between followers of Sunni and Shia schools of thought as in Kurram,
where the Sunni Turi tribesmen frequently clash with members of the Shia Bangash tribe.

Overall Number of Attacks: The sum of militant and counter-militant attacks by the security
forces, besides drone attacks, incidents of ethno-political violence, and attacks with sectarian
motives or by nationalist insurgents.
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Plot/Unsuccessful Attempts: These include attempts at terrorist attacks that were either
foiled by security forces and bomb disposal squads, or explosives went off by accident before
militants or suicide bombers reached their intended target.

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 FOREWORD

The militants’ intensifying attacks, such as the one that martyred 23 army soldiers in DI Khan
in December 2023, indicate three significant things. First, they are certain that Pakistan is not
stepping back from its kinetic counterterrorism approach thus almost closing the chapter of
talks or negotiations with the groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). That implies
that the TTP and affiliates will continue to resort to an intensified terrorism onslaught with a
view to 'force' the Pakistani government to reinstate the process of dialogue. Secondly, for
whatever reasons, the Afghan Taliban appear either unable or unwilling to control the TTP and
its cross-border operations inside Pakistan. The Taliban's ideological, political and operational
'constraints' notwithstanding, many also hint at an element of complicity in their lack of action
against the TTP. Thirdly, due to the TTP and a host of other issues such as Pakistan's
deportation of illegal Afghan refugees, the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan
are set to soar farther, at least for now, which will in turn add to the former's counter-militancy
challenge. In this backdrop, Pakistan needs a comprehensive and sustainable counterterrorism
approach to deal with the growing challenge. Waiting for the Afghan Taliban to rein in the
groups like the TTP for us was never going to help.

Pakistan has witnessed a phenomenal 65 percent increase in terrorism-related fatalities in

2023. While more than 20 militant groups remained active in Pakistan in the year, the major
actors of terrorist violence were the TTP, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), and Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA). These three groups carried out over 78 percent of the total terrorist
attacks recorded in the country in the year 2023; over 82 percent of terrorism-related deaths
were caused by the attacks perpetrated by them. While the attacks by the BLA largely
concentrated in Balochistan, the attacks by the TTP and affiliates such as Tehrik-e-Jihad
Pakistan (TJP) were recorded across four provinces of Pakistan but a bulk of them concentrated
in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The IS-K was almost equally active in parts of KP and Balochistan.
Meanwhile, sectarian violence has apparently also picked up in Pakistan as in the year under
review a total of 43 people lost their lives and another 61 were injured in 16 incidents of such
violence.

The outlawed TTP has adopted the Afghan Taliban's operational and political tactics, which
they used against the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. Employing this approach, the group
has intensified not only terrorist attacks but also efforts of propagating its ideology and
portraying its ‘nationalistic credentials’. The group tends to exploit every opportunity to
discredit the country's security establishment. The TTP’s stated support for ex-MNA Jamshed
Dasti is the most recent example; Dasti accused security institutions of torturing his family for
political victimisation. Similarly, the TTP’s Umar Media has released multiple videos in recent
years against what the group called continuing state oppression against the Baloch people. By
highlighting such cases, the TTP attempts to establish that its fight against the security
establishment is based on a just cause. However, despite its persistent efforts, the TTP has
failed to secure even a fraction of the public support that it once enjoyed in Pakistan before
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

2013-14. Still, there is a probability that it will increase its influence within marginalised areas
and religious institutions.

In a bid to position itself as a genuine anti-establishment armed resistance force, the TTP is
deliberately trying to distance itself from the sectarian divide and is avoid sectarian attacks.
The IS-K has already filled this space and has been hitting hard the communal and sectarian
targets in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

At a time when a major shift is happening in the militant landscape of the country, it is
imperative to see how the state security institutions are assessing and responding to the
situation. The security forces and law enforcement agencies are busy in conducting
intelligence-based operations against the terrorist networks in the country. In 2023, they killed
410 militants in kinetic actions and clashes with militants, besides arresting 377 suspected
terrorists and members of militant groups in as many as 87 search and combing operations
they conducted. However, experts argue that while successful in the short-term, such kinetic
or hard approaches of countering terrorism fail to address the wider issues or causes factoring
in violent extremism. For instance, even as hard approaches eliminate terrorists already on the
ground, as long as the ideology driving them survives, more will continue to take their place.
Therefore, “soft” approaches must be an indispensable component in any counterterrorism
framework; more so in the case of Pakistan, where not just terrorism but also religious
extremism is rampant.

Luckily, law enforcers' threat perception is becoming more precise, and unlike in the past,
counterterrorism departments' (CTD) officials have fewer doubts about the religious and
ideological motives of the groups. The terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar
in 2014 radically changed their perception of terrorists. While many in the CTDs still believe
that the militants are proxies of external actors, mainly India and the US, they view the Taliban
differently. They believe the Taliban were opportunists who used Pakistani soil and resources
against the US but have now turned against Pakistan and are supporting the TTP. However,
the CTDs still lack clarity on the group dynamics, connections, and operational strategies, and
also lack the skills to process the data effectively.

Pakistan also needs to work on the deteriorating relations with Afghanistan and develop some
practical initiative of bilateral state-to-state engagement. While the Afghan Taliban's de facto
government has largely remained in a state of denial or inaction with respect to the banned
TTP, Pakistan also could not take its engagement with the new Afghan government beyond
the security matrix. Bilateral mistrust continued to grow on account of a host of issues including
border fencing, cross-border violence by groups based in Afghanistan, Afghan refugees in
Pakistan and their recent repatriation, cross-border movement and visa issues, and inadequate
bilateral engagement, among others. Pakistan needs to hold talks with Afghanistan on all these
issues and it should not be limited to sending some delegation for a single time. One hopes

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

that Pakistan shall also make its border management policy people-friendly to facilitate and
win hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

PIPS hopes that this 18th edition of its annual security report would help the policymakers,
academics, media, and civil society understand the gravity of the security situation in Pakistan
with a view to moving towards sustainable solutions. This year too, the report includes the
comprehensive data on violent incidents, comparative analysis of various security variables,
the changing targets and tactics of militants and nature of state responses. PIPS is thankful to
the contributors of the chapters, as well as to Hazrat Bilal who designed maps describing
geographical distribution of terrorist attacks and also designed the report title.

Safdar Sial
January 4, 2024

13
Chapter 1

OVERVIEW OF SECURITY IN 2023: CRITICAL

CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

*
Muhammad Amir Rana and Safdar Sial

• 1.1 Overview of Security Situation in 2023

• 1.2 Critical Challenges and Recommendations

• Muhammad Amir Rana is Director of Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). He has authored several
books, most recently of “The Militant: Development of a Jihadi character in Pakistan”, which won the
German Peace Prize in 2014.
• Safdar Hussain, nom de plume Safdar Sial, is Joint Director at PIPS and Associate Editor of Conflict
and Peace Studies journal. He has also co-authored “Dynamics of Taliban Insurgency in FATA” and
“Radicalization in Pakistan”.
1.1 Overview of Security Situation in 2023

For the third year in a row, the number of terrorist attacks and consequent casualties posted
an upsurge in 2023. A total of 306 terrorist attacks took place in Pakistan in the year – including
23 suicide bombings – which killed 693 people and injured 1,124 others. These attacks marked
an increase of 17 percent from the year before, and the number of people killed in these
attacks also represented an increase of 65 percent from those killed in similar attacks during
the previous year.

As many as 330 personnel of security forces and law enforcement agencies were martyred in
the reported terrorist attacks in 2023 including 26 FC men, 176 policemen, 110 army officials,
11 Levies, five unspecified paramilitary soldiers, and two Rangers; another 518 personnel of
security and law enforcement agencies were also injured. Similarly, 260 civilians lost their lives
and another 559 were wounded in these attacks. Meanwhile 103 militants were killed and
another 47 were injured, either in suicide blasts they perpetrated, or in security forces’
retaliatory fire following some attacks.

Religiously inspired militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other
local Taliban groups including Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) and Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, as
well as Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), etc., perpetrated a combined total of 208 terrorist
attacks – compared to 179 in previous year – which killed 579 people and injured 938 others.
Different Baloch and Sindhi nationalist insurgent groups carried out 86 attacks – as compared
to 79 such attacks in 2022 – which claimed 90 lives and wounded another 151 people.
Meanwhile, compared to four in 2022, 12 sectarian-related terrorist attacks were recorded in
2023 that claimed 24 lives and inflicted injuries on another 35 people.

Chart 1: Classification of Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan in 2023

No. of Attacks Killed Injured

938

579

208
151
86 90
12 24 35

By Nationalist By Militants Sectarian-related

Insurgents
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

As in previous years, security and law enforcement personnel were the prime target of terrorist
attacks in 2023. As many as 205 attacks in 2023, or about 67 percent of the total recorded
attacks in the year, targeted personnel, vehicles, convoys, and posts or facilities of security
and law enforcement agencies. Civilians were apparently hit in 19 attacks, while another 10
attacks targeted polio vaccination teams and their security escorts, mainly police. Meanwhile
terrorists perpetrated nine attacks each against alleged spies/collaborators, and government
officials/institutions/state symbols. Another nine attacks hit Sunni religious leaders and
community, and five terrorist attacks targeted members of Shia community. Baloch insurgents
also targeted non-Baloch workers and settlers in Balochistan in a total of five attacks. Other
sporadic targets hit by the terrorists in 2023 are given at Table 1.

Table 1: Targets Hit in Terrorist Attacks in 2023

Targets No. of Killed Injured

attacks
Security/law enforcement agencies (personnel, 205 434 699
convoys, posts)
Education/institutions/teachers 2 0 0
Non-Bloch settlers/workers 5 16 12
Gas pipelines 2 0 0
Govt. officials/institutions/symbols 9 2 11
Power pylons/cell phone towers 2 0 0
Tribal elders 4 5 2
Civilians 19 32 61
Shia religious scholars/community 5 18 32
Worship places/shrines/madrassas 2 71 96
Sunni religious leaders/community 8 9 3
Political leaders/workers 7 72 149
Christian community/Church 1 1 0
Sikh community 3 3 1
Alleged spy or collaborator 9 12 1
Health/polio workers, security escorts 10 5 11
CPEC/workers/Chinese 1 2 0
Railway tracks / trains 4 1 22
Development, exploration projects, companies, 3 6 17
workers
Non-Sindhi settler/worker 1 1 0
Census team/security escort 3 3 7
Total 306 693 1,124

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Besides perpetrating 23 suicide and fedayee attacks, the terrorists mainly used direct infantry
fire in 160 attacks, improvised explosive devices or IEDs of multiple types in 65 attacks, and
hand grenades in 38 attacks. The terrorists also used other attack tactics, though less
frequently, including 12 coordinated gun-and-bomb attacks, three rocket attacks, three
terrorist acts of sabotage and lynching, and one incident each of mortar attack and beheading.

About 93 percent of the total recorded terrorist attacks in Pakistan in 2023 concentrated in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

As in the year before, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced the highest number of attacks for any one
region of the country. PIPS recorded a total of 174 terrorist attacks in the province (or about
57 percent of the total attacks in Pakistan in 2023), which claimed 422 lives and injured 782
others. While the number of terrorist attacks posted only a slight increase of three percent
from previous year, the number of people killed in these attacks in KP rose significantly by
about 43 percent, and that of those injured by 99 percent. That suggests militants resorted to
more intensified or high-impact attacks in the province during the year under review. Secondly,
most of the terrorist activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was concentrated in two regions: one,
southern KP districts; and second, the provincial capital and its neighboring Khyber district.
Indeed, over 82 percent of the total 174 attacks recorded in KP in 2023 concentrated in the
six southern districts of the province (including North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Tank, Lakki
Marwat and DI Khan) as well as the provincial capital Peshawar and neighboring Khyber
district. Apart from these two regions, where mostly the TTP and other local Taliban groups
remained active in the year 2023, a third KP region, i.e., Bajaur, also remained a flashpoint of
terrorist violence that was mainly perpetrated by the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) terrorist
group. As many 10 attacks happened in Bajaur and most of these were claimed by the IS-K.
On the whole, terrorist attacks were recorded from 22 districts of the KP province in 2023.
Moreover, about 75 percent of the total reported attacks from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa targeted
personnel of security and law enforcement agencies, mainly army and police.

Balochistan was the second most terrorism-affected province in 2023, after Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. Baloch insurgent groups as well as religiously inspired militant groups
perpetrated a total of 110 attacks in the province, compared to 79 in previous year. These
attacks claimed 229 lives, compared to 106 in the year before, and wounded 282 others.
Different Baloch insurgent groups, mainly the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan
Liberation Front (BLF), perpetrated 78 attacks in Balochistan killing 86 people and wounding
137 others. The attacks by Baloch insurgent groups spread over 19 districts, mainly in central,
southern and southwestern parts of the province, and largely targeted security forces.
Meanwhile, religiously inspired militant groups such as the TTP, Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan, and
the Islamic State terrorist group (IS-K), etc., perpetrated 29 attacks in Balochistan, up from
seven in previous year, which caused death to 139 people and injuries to another 144 people.
While the TTP and affiliates perpetrated most of the attacks in northern, or largely Pashtun-
populated districts of the province including those bordering on Afghanistan and KP, the IS-K

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

was found more active in Mastung, Bolan and Kalat districts. Meanwhile, three sectarian-
related attacks killed four and wounded one person in Balochistan in 2023.

Compared to eight in the previous year, 15 terrorist attacks took place in Sindh province
including 14 attacks in Karachi alone, and one attack in Jamshoro in interior Sindh. These
attacks killed a total of 16 people and injured 26 others. Seven of the reported attacks from
Sindh in 2023 were perpetrated by sub-nationalist insurgent groups including four attacks by
Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) in Karachi and Jamshoro, and three by Baloch insurgent
groups BLA and BLF in Karachi. Meanwhile, indicating a relative rise in sectarian violence, as
many as seven sectarian-related terrorist attacks also took place in Karachi that claimed six
lives and injured two others. The banned TTP also perpetrated a gun-and-bomb coordinated
attack on the Karachi Police Office martyring four people (3 attackers were also killed) and
injuring 17 others.

Six terrorist attacks took place in Punjab in 2023, compared to five in the year before, which
claimed 16 lives and injured eight others. Four of these attacks were perpetrated by the TTP
and Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan, including three in Mianwali and one in Khanewal, which targeted
law enforcement and intelligence officials. For one, security forces repulsed a major gun and
bomb assault on the Mianwali Training Air Base of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in November
by killing all nine attackers of TJP. Meanwhile, a Baloch insurgent group Baloch Nationalist
Army (BNA) claimed one IED blast that targeted Jaffar Express near Chichawatni in Sahiwal
district, killing a woman and injuring seven others. Separately, a member of Sikh community,
Paramjit Singh Panjwar, was shot dead by unknown attackers in Lahore.

One, apparently, sectarian-related terrorist attack was recorded in Diamir (Gilgit-Baltistan),

which claimed 10 lives and wounded 26 others. (See Table 2)

Table 2: Terrorist Attacks in Pakistan in 2023

Region No. of Attacks Killed Injured

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 174 422 782
Balochistan 110 229 282
Punjab 6 16 8
Karachi 14 16 26
Sindh (excluding Karachi) 1 0 0
Gilgit-Baltistan 1 10 26
Total 306 693 1,124

1.1.1 Comparison

Overall, 498 incidents of conflict-related violence of different types – as listed at Table 3 –

were recorded in Pakistan in 2023. Apart from 306 terrorist attacks cited earlier, these violent

18
 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

incidents also included: security forces' 129 anti-militant operational or kinetic strikes and their
24 armed clashes/encounters with militants; a combined total of 12 cross-border attacks from
Afghanistan, India and Iran; 10 incidents of communal/faith-based violence including mob
attacks; seven (7) terror plots or bids; four (4) incidents of sectarian clashes; two incidents
each of political/ethnic violence and inter-tribal clashes/attacks; one inter-militant clash/attack;
and one act of abduction. These overall incidents of violence killed a total of 1,232 people and
injured 1,254 others.

Table 3: Nature of Overall Incidents of Violence

No. of
Nature of Incident Killed Injured
Incidents
Terrorist attacks 306 693 1,124
Political/ethnic violence 2 0 11
Clashes & encounters between
24 55 3
security forces & militants
Inter-tribal clashes/attacks 2 8 0
Cross-border clashes/attacks 12 26 21
Operational attacks by security forces 129 425 51
Sectarian clashes 4 19 26
Inter-militant clashes/attacks 1 1 0
Communal/faith-based violence 10 3 16
Abductions by militants 1 0 0
Plot/foiled terror attempts 7 2 2
Total 498 1,232 1,254

The number of overall incidents of conflict-related violence posted an increase of over 25

percent, from 398 in 2022 to 498 in 2023. As in the year before, the increase in overall violent
incidents was mainly contributed by an upturn recorded in the number of terrorist attacks as
well as counterterrorism operations. The overall number of people killed in these violent
incidents also increased, by over 48 percent; from 832 in 2022 to 1,232 in 2023. (See Chart
2)

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Chart 2: Comparison of Overall Incidents of Violence & Casualties

(2015-23)

No. of Incidents Killed Injured

3503

2167 2212

1956
1887 1516
1097 1611 1254
749 869 1030 851 1045 960 1232
503 832
713 588 609 498
497 433 373 326 398

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

As cited earlier, for the third year in a row the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan posted
an upsurge in the year 2023. This upsurge in terrorist violence in Pakistan also coincided with
the Taliban's rise to power in the neighboring Afghanistan. Indeed, the year 2020 was the last
year that had witnessed a relative decline in terrorist violence in Pakistan; that decline had
been ongoing since 2014-15 following the military operations in ex-FATA, Karachi and an
extensive counter-militancy campaign across the country including as part of National Action
Plan. But from 2021-onward this declining trend did not sustain, and the incidence of terrorist
attacks took an upturn. (See Chart 3 and Table 4)

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Chart 3: Comparison of Terrorist Attacks and Fatalities in Pakistan

(2015-2023)

No. of attacks Fatalities (No. of killed)

1069
908
815
693
625 595
335 419
441
370 357
262 220 262 306
229 207
146

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Table 4: Comparison of Terrorist Attacks and Fatalities in Pakistan

(2009-23)1

Year No. of Terrorist Attacks No. of Killed

(%Change) (% Change)
2009 Baseline year (2,586 attacks) Baseline year (3,021 Fatalities)
2010 18%¯ 4% ¯
2011 7%¯ 18%¯
2012 20%¯ 14%¯
2013 9%­ 19%­
2014 30%¯ 30%¯
2015 48%¯ 38%¯
2016 28%¯ 12%¯
2017 16%¯ 10%¯
2018 29%¯ 27%¯
2019 13%¯ 40%¯
2020 36%¯ 38%¯
2021 42%­ 52%­

1
­and¯ represent increase and decrease, respectively, from previous year.

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Year No. of Terrorist Attacks No. of Killed

(%Change) (% Change)
2022 27%­ 25%­
2023 17%­ 65%­

As described in the Table 4, in the year 2023 the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan marked
an increase of 17 percent from the previous year. That comparative upsurge in terrorist
violence was contributed by an increase in the number of attacks reported from all four
provinces. The frequency of terrorist incidents in the Balochistan province increased by 39
percent, compared to 2022, and the number of those killed in these attacks also increased, by
116 percent. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, although the number of attacks rose marginally (by 3
percent) from previous year, but the number of people killed in these attacks increased by 43
percent and those of injured by 99 percent.

Similarly, the incidence of terrorist violence in Punjab and Sindh also increased in 2023, by 100
percent and 87 percent, respectively.

Table 5: Comparison of Terrorist Attacks & Casualties (2023 vs.

2022)2

Number of Attacks Killed Injured

Province / Region
(%Change) (% Change) (% Change)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 3%­ 43%­ 99%­

Balochistan 39%­ 116%­ 4%­
Punjab 100%­ 167%­ 73%¯
26 compared to 0
Sindh 87%­ 100%­
in 2022
Islamabad - - -
Unchanged (1 as in 10 compared to 26 compared to 0
Gilgit- Baltistan
2022) 0 in 2022 in 2022
Total 17%­ 65%­ 53%­

Compared to 14 in the year before, as many as 23 suicide and fedayee attacks happened in
2023 including 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and five in Balochistan. These attacks claimed 315
lives – compared to 108 in 2022 – and injured 560 others. As many as 22 of these suicide

2
­and¯ represent increase and decrease, respectively, compared with previous year, i.e., 2022.

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

attacks were carried out by different religiously inspired militant groups, while one attack was
perpetrated by a Baloch insurgent group BLA in Turbat (Kech) in Balochistan. Among religiously
inspired militants, the TTP was reportedly involved in 11 recorded suicide attacks, including
four attacks each in Khyber and North Waziristan, and one attack each in Bannu, Peshawar (in
KP) and Quetta (in Balochistan). All suicide blasts by the TTP targeted security forces and law
enforcement agencies. The worst of suicide blasts by the TTP was the one that hit policemen
in Police Lines mosque, Peshawar on January 30 martyring over 84 people including 81
policemen. Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), which is considered a TTP's subsidiary or coverup
group, claimed four suicide attacks in Peshawar, Bajaur, DI Khan and Lakki Marwat targeting
security forces. One of the TJP-coordinated suicide attacks martyred 23 army soldiers in DI
Khan on December 12. Hafiz Gul Bahadur group perpetrated two suicide blasts in Bannu
targeting security forces that martyred nine soldiers and two civilians. Meanwhile, Islamic
State-Khorasan (IS-K) perpetrated three major suicide bombings in 2023 including one each
in Bolan (martyring 9 Balochistan Constabulary officials and one civilian), Bajaur (martyring 64
civilians in a JUI-F political gathering), and Mastung (martyring over 63 people in a 12th Rabiul
Awwal (the birthday of the holy prophet (PBUH) procession). Meanwhile, two suicide bombings
(in Zhob in Balochistan and Hangu in KP) remained unclaimed.

A total of 12 violent incidents (attacks and clashes) took place at Pakistan's borders with
Afghanistan, India and Iran, compared to 15 such incidents in the year before. These incidents
claimed 26 lives (10 civilians, seven army soldiers, and nine militants) and injured 21 others.
Seven of these incidents happened at or from across the country's border with Afghanistan
including six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one in Balochistan, killing 14 people and injuring 17
others. These seven incidents only entail the border happenings and don’t include the
incursions by the TTP or other militants wherein they crossed the border and carried out attacks
inside Pakistan. Meanwhile four attacks happened from across the Line of Control (in Kotli,
Neelum and Poonch districts of AJK), and Working Boundary with India (in Sialkot, Punjab)
that caused in all eight deaths and injuries to another four people. Apparently the situation at
Pak-India border is not as calm as it had been following February 2021, when Pakistan and
India recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire arrangement at the Line of Control.
Similarly, another attack was reported from across the Iranian border in Kech (Balochistan),
which claimed the life of four army soldiers.

Compared to 87 in the year before, security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted
129 anti-militant operational strikes in Pakistan in 2023. These actions caused a total of 425
fatalities (373 militants, 43 army soldiers, five policemen, two Levies, and two civilians), as
compared to 327 in 2022, besides injuring 51 others. Out of the total 129 operational strikes
recorded in 2023, as many as 97 happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 28 in Balochistan, three
in Punjab, and one in Sindh's provincial capital, i.e., Karachi. While the anti-militant operations
were reported from 31 districts and regions across Pakistan, however there were only nine
districts where five or more such operations happened in the year. These were Kech and

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Quetta in Balochistan, and Bannu, DI Khan, Khyber, North and South Waziristan, Peshawar,
and Tank districts in KP. The highest number of kinetic operations for any one district was
reported from North Waziristan (21 operations), followed by DI Khan (17), South Waziristan
(12), Khyber (9), Peshawar and Tank (8 operations each), and Kech (7 operations).

Security and law enforcement agencies also entered into in a total of 24 armed clashes and
encounters with militants – compared to 11 such incidents in previous year – in 13 districts or
regions of the country. These armed clashes and encounters claimed 55 lives (37 militants, 16
army soldiers, and 2 policemen) and injured two militants and one policeman. As many as 21
of these clashes and encounters (or over 87 percent) took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(mainly between the security forces and the TTP militants). Meanwhile, two such clashes
happened in Punjab and one in Karachi.

Compared to eight in 2022, as many as 10 incidents of communal or faith-based violence

including four incidents of mob violence were also recorded in Pakistan in 2023. These incidents
claimed the lives of three [Muslim] persons accused of blasphemy in Sheikhupura (Punjab),
Mardan (KP) and Kech (Balochistan), and injured 16 others including 15 Hindu students in
Lahore and one member of Christian community in Faisalabad. Few highlights of communal
violence in 2023 included attacks on and sabotage/ransacking of at least four worship places
of Ahmadi community in Karachi, as well as torching and ransacking of at least 19 churches,
and 86 residences of members of the Christian community in Faisalabad. Overall, these
incidents of communal and mob violence targeted worship places and members of Ahmadi
community in four attacks, blasphemy-accused individuals in three attacks, Christian
community and churches in two incidences, and members of Hindu community in one such
incident.

Sectarian violence has apparently also picked up in Pakistan as in the year under review a total
of 43 people lost their lives and another 61 were injured in 12 sectarian-related terrorist attacks
and four sectarian clashes. Incidents of sectarian violence were reported mainly from Karachi
in Sindh (7 incidents), Kurram in KP (5), Mastung and Quetta in Balochistan (3), and Diamir in
Gilgit-Baltistan (one incident).

The number of people killed in overall violent incidents in 2023 (1,232) represented an increase
of about 48 percent from those killed in such incidents in the year before (832). The reported
increase in fatalities was marked by the martyrdom of 405 personnel of security forces and
law enforcement agencies in overall violent incidents, compared to 264 in previous year.
Fatalities among civilians in 2023 (302) were nonetheless over 64 percent more from the
previous year’s fatalities among them (184). There was also an increased number of militants
killed (525), in these violent incidents, compared to 2022 when 384 militants were reportedly
killed. (See Table 6)

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 Pakistan Security Report | 2023

Table 6: Casualties in Overall Violent

Incidents in 2023

Category Killed Injured

FC 26 55
Militants 525 105
Civilian 302 620
Police 183 330
Paramilitaries [unspecified] 5 5
Army 176 115
Levies 13 17
Rangers 2 7
Total 1,232 1,254

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