Pakistan Witnesses Decade-High Suicide Attacks in 2023
Pakistan experienced a significant increase in suicide attacks this year, the highest in a decade, as reported by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). A total of 29 suicide attacks were recorded in 2023, marking the most since 2014, which witnessed 30 such incidents.
These attacks resulted in at least 329 deaths and 582 injuries. Compared to 2022, the number of suicide attacks rose by 93%, with fatalities and injuries surging by 226% and 101% respectively. The previous year saw 15 attacks, leading to 101 deaths and 290 injuries.
The total number of terrorist and guerrilla attacks in Pakistan this year reached 623, a significant increase from the 380 reported in 2022. Security forces were heavily affected, with 157 personnel killed and 340 injured. Civilians also suffered considerably, with 130 deaths and 242 injuries.
The report by PICSS highlighted the fluctuating trends in such attacks over the years, noting that 47 suicide attacks occurred in 2013, but there were significantly fewer, with three in 2019 and four each in 2020 and 2021.
