A yearly report released by a Pakistani think tank has shown that the year 2024 proved to be the deadliest for Pakistan’s security forces and civilians in a decade, with 444 armed attacks resulting in the deaths of 685 security personnel. Overall, 2,546 people lost their lives across Pakistan due to violence, including civilians, security forces, and alleged militants, marking a 66% increase compared to 2023.
The data shows that the security forces in Balochistan were disproportionately affected, recording 782 fatalities — an alarming 90% surge compared to the previous year. The report says that Balochistan became a focal point of violence, second only to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which reported 1,616 deaths. Together, these two regions accounted for 94% of all fatalities nationwide.
The data, compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), highlights that civilian and security personnel fatalities (1,612) far exceeded those of “militants” and “outlaws” (934), a disparity of 73%. November emerged as the most violent month, with 450 fatalities and 625 injuries across Pakistan.
The report also sheds light on the trend of increasing violence since 2021, with insurgency-related fatalities escalating by an average of 116% annually in Balochistan. Balochistan’s several districts, including Quetta, Kech, Kalat, and Musakhail, witnessed nearly as many fatalities in 2024 as they did in the previous three years combined.
The report argues that the security personnel faced the highest number of fatalities in a decade, with 444 attacks targeting them, a sharp rise from previous years. The trend reversed the relative stability seen from 2015 to 2020, marking a significant resurgence of militancy and insurgency.
The report further highlights that sectarian violence also added to the year’s tally, claiming 182 lives and injuring 234 individuals. Shia communities bore the brunt, with 79 fatalities, followed by incidents involving both Shia and Sunni groups, which accounted for 79 deaths.
The report further says that the overall rise in violence represents a stark shift from the declining trends observed from 2015 to 2020. The fatalities recorded in 2024 are a nine-year high, surpassing even the turbulent years of 2015 and 2016. This resurgence of violence underscores the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, with Balochistan and KP emerging as epicenters of instability.