At the same time as the developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan raised with the Taliban its constant self-deprecating concern about blocking the movement of terrorist elements on its soil against Pakistan, but as the group took control of Afghanistan, the wave of terrorist attacks and sabotage in various parts of Pakistan suddenly increased.
The latest survey by a security think tank in Pakistan shows a sudden increase in militant movements and terrorist operations in various parts of the country following the upheaval in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
The Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) in Pakistan said in a report that since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, not only has the wave of terrorist attacks in Pakistan intensified, but since May 2016, most of the militant sabotage operations have now been recorded in just one month related to August this year.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly expressed concern over the misuse of terrorist territory in neighboring Afghanistan since the current events in Afghanistan since mid-August, urging Taliban leaders to ensure the two countries’ borders remain secure and terrorist elements should not be allowed to move in Afghanistan against their neighbors.
However, the Taliban regime in recent days has assured that Afghanistan will never become a terrorist hub and its territory will not be used against its neighbors, including Pakistan, recent reports, however, indicate that attacks on Pakistani security forces ‘positions inside Afghanistan have intensified, with several explosions in the two countries’ border areas and fierce clashes between the military and militant groups.
A report by the Pakistan Institute for Security Studies states: The complete occupation of Afghanistan (except Panjshir) by the Afghan Taliban has had no effect on stopping attacks by terrorist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch militias inside Pakistan. The Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan coincides with a doubling of militant attacks in Pakistan.
According to the think tank, Pakistan witnessed the highest number of terrorist attacks in a month in August this year compared to the previous five years. This was the first time since May 2016 that more than 44 attacks were recorded in one month.
For the first time since March 2017, more than 40 attacks by militants in various parts of Pakistan were recorded in just one month. Another important aspect is that, unlike in the past, where there has been a steady increase or decrease in sabotage operations, this time such militant attacks have increased from 25 in July to 45 in August this year.
According to figures released by the Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, 45 terrorist attacks were recorded in August this year, in which 64 civilians and 22 security personnel were killed, and 136 others, including 96 civilians and 36 security personnel. In July, 33 militants were killed and 54 others wounded in 25 militant attacks. In July, 33 militants were killed and 54 others wounded in 25 militant attacks.
Over the past month, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has witnessed the largest number of terrorist attacks in northwestern Pakistan and Balochistan in southwestern Pakistan, two provinces that share a border with Afghanistan and regularly see thousands of people on both sides of the border and commercial trucks.