PIPS Security Report 2006: 657 Terrorist Attacks hit Pakistan in 2006 1095 Suspected Taliban and 47 Al-Qaeda Operatives Arrested

Security situation of Pakistan in 2006 remained highly unsatisfactory amid terrorist attacks throughout the year. Balochistan and Tribal Areas appeared as the most troubled spots for the government and security agencies where Baloch nationalist insurgents, Taliban, Al-Qaeda operatives and sectarian militants kept striking.

As many as 657 terrorist attacks including 41 sectarian attacks and clashes took place in 2006, which left 907 persons dead and 1543 injured besides causing loss of billions of rupees.

 Security agencies arrested 1552 suspected terrorists including 1094 Taliban and Afghan, 47 Al-Qaeda operatives, 198 other militants and 213 nationalist insurgents.                                                                

Terrorist Attacks in Balochistan 2006

Balochistan Liberation Army, Balochistan Liberation Front and Bugti Militia, allegedly, carried out 403 terrorist attacks in Balochistan during 2006 that killed 277 persons and injured 676. Gas pipelines, security check posts and camps, government offices, rail tracks and bridges were targets of the insurgents. The main incident that made ripple effect on political horizon was death of Nawab Akbar Bugti during a clash between security forces and Bugti Militia.

Below is the table of attacks in Balochistan:                                                        

Terrorist Attacks in Tribal Areas 2006

Federally Administered Tribal Areas proved a big trouble for government and security agencies, as tribal Taliban started reorganizing their ranks in those areas. Tribal Taliban and militants kept on hitting security agencies and other anti-Taliban elements. They killed 39 locals on suspicion of having been spying for the US forces. The Government’s air strike at a religious seminary in Bajaur that left 83 suspected Taliban dead, was the biggest event of the year in tribal areas that invited further trouble for security agencies and marred efforts for peace agreement. A total of 144 attacks occurred in tribal areas, causing 379 deaths and 307 injuries. Sectarian clashes between two groups in Khyber Agency also disturbed law and order in the whole agency.                                                             

Terrorist Attacks in NWFP 2006

NWFP remained the third troubled spot during 2006 where 60 terrorist attacks and sectarian clashes took place, leaving 139 persons dead and 303 wounded. A suicide bombing at Punjab Regiment Centre, Dargai that left 42 under-training military officials dead and 39 wounded, was the most gruesome incident of the year in already volatile NWFP. The attack was termed as the reaction of government’s bombing at a religious school in Bajaur.                                      

Terrorist Attacks in Punjab 2006

Punjab comparatively remained peaceful during 2006, as terrorists could not carry out any major activity in the province. They did carry out bomb blasts in different cities and struck Lahore thrice during 2006 but casualties remained low. A total of 28 attacks were carried out that claimed 28 lives and 126 injuries.      

Terrorist Attacks in Sindh

Though, number of attacks in Sindh was lesser than other three province, two incidents of terrorism – bomb blast at a religious congregation at Nishter Park, Karachi that left 57 participants dead and 100 injured, and suicide attack on a Shia Leader Allama Hassan Turabi in Karachi jolted the whole country. A total of 19 terrorist incidents took place, leaving 81 persons dead and 127 injured. 

Terrorist Attacks Northern Areas

Northern Areas of Pakistan generally remained peaceful. Only three incidents took place in the areas leaving three dead and four injured. 

                                                 Terrorists’ Arrests 2006 

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Sectarian Attacks and clashes in 2006