Executive Summary
Pakistan faced 200 terrorist/insurgent attacks during the month of March that killed 265 people besides injuring 547 others.  Security forces continued limited operations in parts of NWFP (3 attacks), FATA (6), Balochistan (3) and Punjab (1 in Lahore), and 158 people, mostly militants, were killed and 52 injured in these operational attacks.  There were also reported 6 clashes between security forces and the militants/insurgents (2 in Balochistan, 3 in NWFP and 1 in FATA). 10 cross-border Drone attacks, 4 each in South and North Waziristan, 1 in Kurram Agency and 1 in Bannu (in NWFP), killed 49 militants and 1 civilian and injured 24 militants and 2 civilians.

There are no immediate signs of halt in Baloch insurgency. Almost all Baloch insurgent groups including Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Lashkar-e-Balochistan, Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) were operationally active during the reporting month. Taliban, nonetheless, are also becoming active on operational front especially in Quetta, Pashtun belt and along Pak-Afghan border. Lashkar-e-Jhnagvi (LeJ) was reportedly behind 4 terrorist attacks in Quetta this month.

The Taliban militants are keeping a low profile in Swat and Bajaur Agency due to the peace agreements. At the same time they are busy in a sectarian war with the Shias in D.I. Khan district and other areas.

Punjab remained in the grip of fear where three fierce acts of terrorism, 2 in Lahore and 1 in Rawalpindi, sent a red signal to security forces and the government. The banned militant (sectarian) groups and the Taliban are reportedly behind these attacks. Their increasing operational activities and enhanced nexus in Punjab does not bode well for the security situation in the province.

Seven incidents of political and 1 of ethnic violence were reported from Karachi this month. Sindh also remained in the grip of ethnic violence and 4 such incidents killed 10 and injured another 18 people in Hyderabad, Jacobabad and Mir Pur Khas. More than two-dozen shops were also damaged.