Pakistan averaged 1 militant attack every 14 hours in 2023, with 976 people killed

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank, said more would have been killed or injured if the country’s security forces had not foiled hundreds of attacks and attempts during the year.

Most attacks were claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, a group with the same ideology but a different organisational structure than their Afghan counterpart.

China’s belt and road expansion in Pakistan at risk as terrorist attacks surge

Pakistan says the group launches attacks from its alleged hideouts in the border region of Afghanistan. Kabul denies the charge.

Part of the recent volatility is seen as reaction to Chinese investment in the southwestern province of Balochistan, where nationalist rebels are challenging the state.

The deadly attacks are expected to surge further as the nation heads to elections next month, said Fida Khan, a security analyst based in the northwestern city of Peshawar.