Pakistani security forces suffer deadliest year for a decade while fighting insurgency, report finds
Associated PressPESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces in 2024 suffered the highest casualties in nearly a decade while battling insurgency, an Islamabad-based research group said. The Center for Research and Security Studies said in its report Tuesday that this year was the deadliest for Pakistani security forces in 9 years. “On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily,” according to the report which tallied “at least 685 fatalities and 444 terror attacks.” The data was released as militants mounted separate attacks on Tuesday on a security post, a government office and a police van in the country’s restive northwest, which borders Afghanistan, killing a policeman, and two civilians, including a child. Abdullah Khan, the managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, released a report on Tuesday documenting the deteriorating law and order situation, saying “Pakistan witnessed a 40% surge in militant attacks in 2024 compared to 2023.” He said officers killed 950 militants this year, while 527 security forces and 489 civilians died in militant attacks.