An Overview
In the wake of former Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden’s killing—in a May 2 US Navy Seals raid in Abbotabad, a city some 60 kilometers north of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad—the abysmal security situation deteriorated further as Thrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other Al-Qaeda affiliated groups unleashed a string of multiple-coordinated reprisal attacks across the country. These revenge assails included some high profile attacks like ambush on Pakistan Navy’s air base, PNS-Mehran, and target killing of a Saudi diplomat in Karachi, twin suicide bombing of Frontier Constabulary ‘s (FC) headquarters in Charsadda district of Kkhyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), a car suicide bombing of Crime Investigation Department’s (CID) police station and assault on vehicles of US Regional Assistant Security Officers in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KPK. Militants stepped up their ambushes against check posts and patrolling convoys of security forces in KPK, Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as well. Taliban militants not only demonstrated their easy access and ability to launch sophisticated attacks in high security zones across the country but also proved that despite repeated victory claims by Pakistan security forces against them, terrorist infrastructure was still alive and kicking. Amid this volatile security situation a total of 165 terrorist attacks were reported, across the country, which claimed lives of 309 people and wounded 487 others.

FATA remained a security flash point where as many as 46 reported attacks killed 49 people and injured 71 others. Intermittent clashes between Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and its rival trio alliance of Zakhakhel militia, dissident faction of LI and Ansarul Islam (AI), continued in different parts of Khyber Agency. Whereas, in Kurram agency a ceasefire truce was signed between the warring Sunni and Shia tribes after protracted clashes in Balishkhel area. Security forces’ counter-militancy operation Barekhan (lightening) continued in Orakzai agency. Meanwhile, owing to deteriorating security situation in Frontier Region (FR) Kohat, the security forces launched an operation in Jawaki and Darra Adam Khel areas as well. Efforts were afoot for a military operation in Kurram agency while conflicting news also emerged of a possible military operation in North Waziristan Agency.

Balochistan was the most volatile area of the country where security situation showed no signs of improvement as Baloch separatists continued their attacks on political leaders, security forces and government installations unabated. Assassination attempts on Balochistan Finance Minister Asim Khur in Mastung district and attack on Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) senior leader Samiullah in Quetta, eruption of sectarian motivated targeted killings of members shia Hazar community were among the prominent features of Balochistan’s security landscape where 57 people were killed and 43 others were wounded in 55 reported terrorist and nationalist insurgent attacks. Meanwhile in KPK, the second most volatile area of country, at least 171 people were killed and 328 others were injured in 47 attacks.

Karachi’s security dynamics more or less remained the same where politically motivated target killings and criminal violence left 19 people dead and 17 others injured. Whereas with the exception four terrorist attacks which claimed lives of 12 people and injured 14 others, the overall security situation was peaceful in Punjab. Moreover, situation in parts of Interior Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad also remained peaceful. (See Chart 1) 

If the casualties in terrorist attacks, operational attacks by the security forces and their clashes with the militants, inter-tribal clashes and cross border attacks throughout the country are counted collectively, the overall number of casualties reaches 655 killed and 698 injured. In 17 incidents of ethno-political violence as many people were killed and 10 others were wounded. Whereas 15 border attacks and clashes —including seven drone strikes—killed 64 people and injured 29 others. Moreover, 21 inter-tribal clashes reported in different areas of KPK, FATA and Balochistan claimed lives of 70 people and injured 97 others.  (See Table 2)

Comparing last three months’ security landscape with May’s security features, a slight downward trend is observable. The overall number attacks and incidents of violence have slightly declined; due to a negligible decrease in incidents of ethno-political violence, inter-tribal clashes and terrorist attacks compared to the previous month. Similarly the number of killings have also decline from 728 to 655 owing to less number of militants and civilians killed in this month (265) compared to the previous month (295). Notwithstanding the decrease in number of killings and terrorist attacks the number of injuries has risen slightly i.e. from 668 to 669 owing greater number of civilians injured in this month (429) compared to last month (393).  (See Chart 3) 

Chart 3: Comparison with Four Months Figure

The maximum number of casualties is of civilians with 265 life losses and 429 injuries, with a majority of them being killed in terrorist attacks and cross-firing of Pakistani security forces and militants, during their clashes. Meanwhile second highest number of casualties is of militants who have been killed in security forces’ operational attacks and clashes of the militants with the security forces as well as US-led predator drones strikes. The militants suffered 262 death casualties and 74 injuries. In terrorist attacks and their clashes with the militants the security forces lost 128 troops; among them 80 FC, 27 police, 18 army, one levies and five rangers personnel and injured 195 others—among them 89 FC, 49 police, 46 army, four levies, six rangers  and one paramilitary force personnel. (See Table 4, 4a)  

Table 4: Detail of Casualties May 2011

Table 4a: Distribution of Casualties May 2011 Type Killed Injured FC 80 89 Militants 262 74 Civilian 265 429 Police 27 49 Paramilitary - 1 Army 18 46 Lvs 1 4 Rng 2 6 Total 655 698

Among a variety of tactics used by the militants the most commonly used tactic was of firing or shooting with 49 reported incidents. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were the second most commonly used tactic with 29 reported incidents. Meanwhile rocket attacks were the third most commonly used tactic with 20 reported incidents. Similarly 18 incidents of remote controlled bomb blasts and 10 incidents of hand grenade attacks were also reported. (See Table 5)