Unprecedented Surge: Pakistan Witnesses Highest Number of Suicide Attacks Since 2014, Says PICSS Report”
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has recently disclosed alarming statistics regarding suicide attacks in Pakistan. In 2023, the country experienced a disturbing surge in such attacks, reaching the highest level since 2014. A staggering 29 suicide attacks were reported, resulting in the tragic loss of 329 lives and leaving 582 individuals injured. This marks the highest death toll since 2013 when 683 people lost their lives in 47 suicide bombings.
Comparing the data to the preceding year, 2022, reveals a distressing 93 percent increase in the number of suicide attacks, a shocking 226 percent rise in resultant deaths, and a troubling 101 percent surge in the number of injured individuals. Furthermore, the share of suicide attacks in the total number of attacks escalated from 3.9 percent in 2022 to 4.7 percent in 2023, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Delving into regional specifics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bore the brunt of these attacks, reporting 23 instances that resulted in 254 fatalities and 512 injuries. Within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Newly Merged Districts (NMD) or erstwhile FATA experienced 13 suicide attacks, leading to 85 deaths and 206 injuries. Balochistan faced five attacks, causing 67 deaths and 52 injuries, while Sindh witnessed one suicide attack resulting in eight deaths and 18 injuries.
Table : Province-wise distribution of suicide attacks in Pakistan in 2023
| Deaths | Injured | ||||||||||
| Province | No | SFP | RZ | M | C | Total | SFP | RZ | M | C | Total |
| Baluchistan | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 67 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 52 |
| FATA | 13 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 59 | 85 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 163 | 206 |
| KPK | 10 | 128 | 0 | 23 | 18 | 169 | 265 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 306 |
| Sindh | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| 29 | 157 | 0 | 42 | 130 | 329 | 340 | 0 | 0 | 242 | 582 | |
The unsettling data further reveals that security forces were the primary targets of these attacks, with civilians constituting the second-largest victim category. A visual representation in the form of pie charts illustrates that 48 percent of deaths and 58 percent of injuries were inflicted upon security forces personnel.
Examining the historical trajectory, PICSS’s militancy database indicates a notable decline in suicide attacks from 30 in 2014 to a mere 3 in 2019. Contrary to the earlier statement, there was no significant surge in 2020 and 2021, as both years witnessed only four attacks each. The year 2022 witnessed a sudden and significant surge, recording 15 attacks resulting in 101 deaths and 290 injuries. This worrisome trend persisted into 2023, reaching a new high with 29 reported suicide attacks. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the data presented by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
| Suicide Attacks | |||||
| Year | No of SAs | Total MAs | Share of SAs in Total MAs | Deaths | Injuries |
| Y-2014 | 30 | 1609 | 1.9% | 282 | 562 |
| Y-2015 | 20 | 710 | 2.8% | 254 | 446 |
| Y-2016 | 17 | 513 | 3.3% | 327 | 887 |
| Y-2017 | 23 | 420 | 5.5% | 299 | 799 |
| Y-2018 | 18 | 229 | 7.9% | 267 | 460 |
| Y-2019 | 10 | 147 | 6.8% | 70 | 141 |
| Y-2020 | 4 | 188 | 2.1% | 26 | 43 |
| Y-2021 | 4 | 294 | 1.4% | 15 | 41 |
| Y-2022 | 15 | 380 | 3.9% | 101 | 290 |
| Y-2023 | 29 | 623 | 4.7% | 329 | 582 |
Abbreviations:
Nos= Number of incidents/Attacks, SFP=Security Forces Personnel,
RZ= Pro-Government Razakars/Armed men, M=Militants C=Civilians
MA=Militant Attack SA=Suicide Attack, Total MAs=Total number of militant attacks of all categories including Suicide Attacks
