KARACHI: Pakistan recorded a 143 percent rise in civilian casualties in January compared to the previous month, an Islamabad-based think tank said in a report.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan reported the highest number of incidents.
Militant attacks surged in Pakistan’s northwestern and southwestern regions bordering Afghanistan. Security forces continued operations against groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of allowing militants to operate from Afghan territory. It has also blamed New Delhi for backing these groups. Both countries deny the allegations.
Pakistan witnessed a 28 percent increase in militant attacks in January. The country recorded 87 incidents nationwide, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
Of these attacks, 38 occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 27 in Balochistan. Two incidents were reported in Punjab.
PICSS said 361 people died during the month. The death toll included 242 militants, 73 civilians, and 46 security personnel.
Civilian deaths rose by 143 percent compared to December. Militant deaths increased by 35 percent. Security force fatalities rose by seven percent.
Balochistan emerged as the main center of militant violence and security operations, the report said.
The report followed coordinated bombings and gun attacks across several cities in Balochistan. Officials said these attacks killed at least 177 militants, 31 civilians, and 17 security personnel.
PICSS also reported injuries to 71 civilians, 52 security personnel, and 12 militants. Authorities arrested around 60 suspected militants during January.
The country recorded three suicide attacks last month.
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PICSS said no militant attacks occurred in Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad, or Gilgit-Baltistan during the month.
