Suicide attacks drop in Pakistan despite rise in overall militant violence

Islamabad: Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in suicide attacks in 2024, even as overall militant violence surged by 40 per cent across the country, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Suicide bombings dropped to 17 incidents this year, compared to 29 in 2023. This marks a 41 per cent reduction in such attacks, alongside a 58 per cent decline in fatalities and a staggering 77 per cent decrease in injuries.

The PICSS report reveals that the 17 suicide attacks in 2024 resulted in 139 deaths, including 66 security forces personnel, 25 civilians, and 48 militants. Another 134 people were injured, with civilians comprising 82 of the wounded and security forces 52. In contrast, 2023 recorded 329 deaths and 582 injuries from suicide bombings. Since 2001, Pakistan has faced 550 suicide bombings, resulting in 7,157 deaths and 15,731 injuries, underscoring the enduring threat posed by such violence.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) emerged as the most targeted province, reporting 12 of the 17 suicide attacks. Within KP, seven occurred in mainland areas, while five were reported from the newly merged districts, formerly part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). However, the deadliest attacks were concentrated in Balochistan, where 51 lives were lost and 45 people injured, according to PICSS. The province also accounted for the majority of security forces’ casualties in such incidents. PICSS highlighted two vehicle-based suicide bombings among the year’s attacks. In one high-profile incident, Chinese nationals were targeted outside Karachi airport in October, resulting in the deaths of two Chinese citizens and a Pakistani. Another vehicle-based suicide attack was carried out by Jabha Ansarul Mahdi, a faction of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, against a military checkpoint in Bannu, killing ten soldiers and two Frontier Constabulary personnel.

The year also saw an alarming focus on foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens. In March, a suicide bombing near Besham city in KP killed five Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver. While no group claimed responsibility, PICSS noted that Pakistani security forces attributed the attack to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim the group denied. In October, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for another suicide bombing outside Karachi airport, killing three Chinese nationals and a Pakistani.

Foreign nationals from other countries were not spared. The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed a failed suicide attack in April targeting Japanese citizens in Karachi. Although no Japanese nationals were killed, a security guard lost his life, and two civilians were injured. PICSS analysis suggests that the attackers may have mistaken the Japanese for Chinese nationals based on their appearance.

The BLA emerged as the most lethal group, responsible for 54 of the year’s 139 fatalities from suicide attacks. Their high-profile operations included a suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station targeting infantry trainees and an assault on an FC camp in Lasbela that killed 14 security personnel.

The TTP and Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group also claimed responsibility for suicide attacks during the year, although their impact was less significant compared to the BLA. The TTP conducted three attacks, two in North Waziristan and one in KP’s Tank district, while the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group carried out three attacks, including a vehicle-based bombing in Bannu.

Despite the reduction in suicide bombings, civilians bore the brunt of injuries, accounting for 61% of those wounded. PICSS emphasized that while militants continue to target security forces, their tactics often lead to widespread collateral damage, exacerbating civilian suffering.

Historical data analysed by PICSS reveals that suicide attacks accounted for only 1.87 per cent of all militant incidents in 2024, the second lowest proportion during last 11 years after 2021 when it was 1.4 per cent. Fatalities from such attacks represented 12 per cent of the year’s total, compared to 34 per cent in 2023.