Pakistan sees sharp rise in suicide attacks in 2023

The Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) said on Tuesday that at least 29 suicide attacks were carried out in Pakistan in 2023, killing at least 329 people and wounding 582 others.

The PIPS said that the number of suicide attacks in Pakistan increased by 93% in 2023 compared to the previous year.

The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, was the worst-hit region, with 23 suicide attacks. At least 254 people were killed and 512 others were injured in these attacks.

The provinces of Balochistan, Sindh, and Fata also saw a rise in suicide attacks in 2023.

According to the PIPS, security forces were the main target of the suicide attacks. They accounted for 48% of the fatalities and 58% of the injuries.

The PIPS said that the increase in suicide attacks in Pakistan is a cause for concern. It urged the government to take steps to prevent such attacks in the future.

The PIPS said that the increase in suicide attacks is likely due to a number of factors, including the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, the rise of sectarianism in Pakistan, and the spread of extremist ideology.

The PIPS called on the government to address the root causes of terrorism in order to prevent further attacks.