Three members of the Frontier Corps were killed in an assault on a vehicle in Karak, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In a recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), it was revealed that Pakistan has seen an increase in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, since 2021.
The report documents a rebound in militant violence that had previously decreased from about 2017–2020, following major military operations. This resurgence is attributed to multiple actors, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and Baloch separatist groups.
In KP, attacks by TTP and splinter groups have increased, targeting security forces, tribal elders, and civilians in districts of KP and merged tribal districts. Notable spikes in attacks, fatalities, and claims by several militant groups have been recorded, reversing the earlier downward trend after the Pakistan army’s operations.
In Balochistan, Baloch separatist violence and militant attacks (including sectarian and IS-linked incidents) have risen, with several high-profile attacks in Quetta and along transit routes, increasing fatalities and displacements compared with the 2018–2020 lull.
The PICSS report recorded 78 militant attacks across the country in June, resulting in at least 100 deaths. One such tragic incident occurred in Peshawar on Tuesday night, where Police Inspector Ali Hussain and two others were shot dead on Warsak Road. Three Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel were martyred in a shooting in Garagri, Karak.
Governor Faisal Kundi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur both condemned the attacks, with Gandapur directing authorities to swiftly arrest those involved. Governor Kundi also expressed his condolences to the families of the martyred FC personnel.
The attack on Hussain and his companions occurred when unidentified attackers opened fire on their vehicle. A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 members of the security forces and 63 civilians. Among the fatalities were 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of local peace committees.
A search operation is underway in the area to arrest the culprits. The FC personnel were carrying out routine patrol duties and were assigned to security duty for a gas company. The attack on Hussain and the FC personnel underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism in Pakistan and the sacrifices made by security personnel in the fight against it.
The PICSS report noted an 8% drop in the number of attacks, a 12% decline in fatalities, and a marginal rise in injuries compared with figures from May. However, the overall trend remains concerning, with the potential for further escalation in violence if effective countermeasures are not implemented.
Sources:
- Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) report
- Open-source lists of IS-linked attacks
- National security reporting
- Official Pakistani security reports
- Media case-by-case accounts
- In addition to the rising militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the general news landscape also includes increases in crime and justice-related incidents, such as the shooting death of Police Inspector Ali Hussain in Peshawar.
- As the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) report indicates, there has been a resurgence in war-and-conflicts-related activities in Pakistan, with travel safety becoming a growing concern in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
- Apart from focusing on war-and-conflicts and terrorist activities, news reports also highlight ongoing political developments and power struggles within the government, with Governor Faisal Kundi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur both taking a stance on recent attacks in their region.
