Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: Terror incidents in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) surged by 16 percent in 2017 as compared to 2016, said an annual security report report issued by the FATA Research Centre.

A total of 324 violent incidents – including 153 terrorism and 171 counter- terrorism actions – were recorded during 2017, which marked a 16 percent increase in terrorism incidents, compared to the last year.

According to the report, 73 terror attacks (48 percent) of total 153 targeted the security forces, while 71 attacks (46 percent) were directed against civilians. Seven terrorist attacks (five percent) targeted members of civil militia or Amn Lashkar. Two incident of infighting between terrorist groups was also report during the year 2017.

The violent incidents resulted in a total of 1,207 casualties, with 539 killed and 668 injured across FATA, marking an increase of 37 percent in overall casualties. Of the total casualties, 76O (138 killed and 437 injured) were that of civilians, accounting for 63 percent of the overall casualties.

One hundred and twenty eight casualties (63 killed and 65 injured) were inflicted upon security forces which makes 11 percent of the overall casualties. Similarly, 29 casualties (11 killed and 18 injured) of civil militia were also reported during 2017.

The civilian casualties were particularly high in Kurram Agency, which borders Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on its west. A total of 575 civilian casualties – 138 deaths and 437 injuries – were recorded from Kurram Agency, which accounted for three-quarters of the overall civilian casualties. Bajaur Agency remained second in terms of civilian casualties in which 18 terrorist attacks resulted in 68 civilian casualties (16 killings and 52 injuries), making up nine percent of the overall all civilian casualties.

Similarly, 39 casualties (seven killings and 32 injuries) were reported from Mohmand Agency, while South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Khyber Agencies with around 3% each follow the list. Orakzai Agency remained the most peaceful agency with the least number of civilian casualties. Eighteen civilian casualties (five killings and 13 injuries) were reported from Orakzai, which accounts for two percent of the overall civilian casualties.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K), Khan Said and Hakeemullah group of Mahsud Taliban, Wazir Taliban, Haqqani Network, Lask-e-Jhangvi Almi and TTP-Jamat-ul-Ahrar remained the major actor of instability during the year 2017. These terrorist groups currently based in Afghanistan by forming new alliances and re-invigorating the old ones managed to carry out terrorist attacks against security forces, civilians and member of Amn Lashkar from January to December 2017.

According to Irfanudin, senior security analyst at FATA Research Centre, Islamabad, the recent surge in terrorist attacks in FATA illustrates the growing threat of terrorists after re-establishing their networks inside Afghanistan.

“IS-K has already established new bases in Jawzjan, Faryab, Balkh, Kunduz, Takar, Badkhshan, Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khosht and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan. To further entrench its network, IS-K is offering $1,000 for fresh recruits and disgruntled Taliban fighters, particularly in areas close to the North Waziristan, Kurram and Khyber Agencies of FATA which has created new threats for FATA region.” says Irfan.

“The new alliance of IS-K with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), and Jamat-ul-Ahrar (TTP-JuA), currently stationed inside Afghanistan has further compounded these threats and may trigger a massive wave violence not only FATA but also in other parts of Pakistan,” said Irfan.

Published in Daily Times, January 16^th 2018.