By Deutsche Welle (Asia) | Created at 2025-04-03 16:50:27 | Updated at 2025-04-04 21:39:43
1 day ago
More than 100 deadly attacks in Pakistan by Islamist militants and separatist rebels made March the deadliest month over a decade with 335 people killed, a think tank reported Thursday.
Of the deaths, 228 were caused by militant groups, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) think tank. They included 73 members of security services, including soldiers and police officers, 67 civilians and 88 militants.
Who are the militant groups?
The Islamist-militant Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the separatist rebel Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were the main militant groups responsible for the attacks.
The BLA was responsible for a 28-hour hijackingof the train Jaffar Express in the southwestern region Balochistan. Some 450 people were held hostage and more than two dozen were killed.
Pakistani forces race to free hundreds of hostages
Which are the most affected regions?
Balochistan was the most affected province, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest of Pakistan.
They have both also been targets of suicide bombings, a form of attacks that surged in March.
In Punjab, the eastern province bordering India, the think tank observed a strong increase in militant activity.
At least seven attacks were recorded, and most were attributed to the TTP.
In response to the growing threat, Pakistan's security forces have intensified their operations in the region. Many people have been arrested with connections to militant groups, including the TTP.
Pakistan strikes at Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan
What are the consequences of the rising violence?
Islamabad claims that most attacks, both by militants and rebels, are planned and executed from Afghanistan. It accuses the neighboring country of granting Pakistani militants space to plan and organize attacks.
A recent report by the United Nations supported this claim. It said that the Taliban provided support to the TTP and that some attacks were launched from Afghan territory.
As a consequence, the Pakistani government has urged the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan to act against the allegedly responsible criminals. Kabul, on the other hand, denies that the militants are in Afghanistan.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
