Pakistan witnessed a total of 432 violence-related fatalities and 370 injuries during the first quarter of 2024, stemming from 245 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, as revealed in a report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The figure includes 281 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.
According to the report, the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan bore the brunt of this violence, accounting for over 92% of all fatalities and 86% of attacks during this period.
The surge in violence, particularly in Balochistan, highlights the escalating challenges faced by security forces in maintaining stability and safeguarding civilian lives, it added.
The report underscores significant regional variations in the intensity of violence, with K-P and Balochistan emerging as epicentres of conflict. While other regions experienced relative peace, with fatalities accounting for less than 8% of the total.
Balochistan experienced a staggering 96% surge in violence during the first quarter of 2024 and fatalities doubled from 91 to 178.