Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2019

The year 2018 saw a remarkable reduction of 45pc in militant attacks in Pakistan, Dawn reported on January 2 quoting a study conducted by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The PICSS study showed that the security situation significantly improved in the year as the number of attacks, resultant deaths as well as injuries declined by 45pc, 37pc and 49pc, respectively, compared to 2017. The number of suicide attacks also declined. According to a press release, militants carried out 229 attacks in different provinces in which 577 people were killed - 356 civilians, 152 security forces personnel and 67 militants. Besides, 959 people were injured, including 693 civilians and 261 security personnel. But the ratio of security forces’ casualties per attack significantly increased in 2018 compared to 2017. A consistent decline in militant attacks was noticed since the launch of Operation Zarb-i-Azb (‘Sword of the Prophet’, also ‘sharp and cutting’) in June 2014. The average militant attacks per month declined from 35 in 2017 to 19 in 2018. In 2014, it was 134 which dropped to 59 in 2015 and 42 in 2016. Average militant attacks per month decreased from 35 in 2017 to 19 in 2018, report says. Balochistan remained the most troubled province where the highest number of militant attacks (99), highest number of deaths (354) and highest number of injured (570) were recorded. Of the total attacks in the country, 61pc of the deaths and 59pc of the injuries took place in Balochistan. The second highest number of attacks (65) was recorded in the erstwhile FATA in which 107 people were killed and 150 injured. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40 attacks were recorded in which 72 people were killed and 174 injured. As many as 14 attacks were reported from Sindh in which 21 people were killed and 20 injured. Punjab saw six militant attacks in which 18 people were killed and 42 injured. More footprints of the militants were observed in Gilgit-Baltistan than the previous years as four militant attacks were recorded in the area during the year in which five people were killed and three injured. At least 12 schools, mostly of girls, were destroyed in a single night in the Diamer District. In 2017, 23 suicide attacks had been recorded in the country. However, the number declined to 18 in 2018 in which 267 people were killed and 460 injured. Read less...

One militant was killed on January 4 when Security Forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on a suspected terrorist hideout in Barkelay village of Spin Wam tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports The Nation. Improvised Explosive Device making literature, Sub-Machine Gun, hand grenades, spare magazines and communication equipment were recovered during the operation. Read less...

At least six persons including a woman were injured in a blast in Kala Bari market located in the Saddar area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on January 5 (today), reports Dawn.Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) of Peshawar Qazi Jamilsaid that about eight to ten kilogrammes of explosive material were used in the blast. The material was planted in a white Corolla, he added.The vehicle was completely destroyed in the blast that was so loud that it shattered the windowpanes of nearby buildings. Read less...

Pakistan has detained a senior Afghan Taliban member in Peshawar in an attempt to put pressure on the militants amid talks with the US, reports BBC news. Sources within Taliban say Hafez Mohibullah, religious affairs minister when the Taliban ran Afghanistan before 2001, was held in Peshawar. Read less...

Pakistan on January 15, released, Hafiz Mohibullah, member of a Taliban political commission, who was taken into custody from Peshawar, provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) a few days ago, Taliban sources said, reports Daily Times. Hafiz Mohibullah has taken part in several rounds of peace talks. Taliban officials said they do not know as to why he was arrested at a time when Taliban and the US were engaged in talks to find out a political solution to the Afghan conflict. Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban warned on January 15, that they would be forced to stall all talks and negotiations if US refused to discuss withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. A Taliban statement said the US is ‘backing away’ from the agenda and is unilaterally adding new subjects besides using pressure tactics. The Taliban said they have kept all channels open for a political solution and designated political office in Doha for all contacts. “Every country seeking to lend a hand in finding a peaceful solution to the Afghan issue can contact the political office and are welcomed by the Islamic Emirate. This issue can neither be solved through pressure or tactical maneuvering of anyone nor is it acceptable for anyone to use the issue of Afghanistan for strengthening ties or furthering their own interests,” the statement said. Read less...

Four suspected terrorists, including the alleged mastermind of a November 23, 2018, suicide attack in Orakzai, were killed in an 'encounter' with Security Forces (SFs) in Hangu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 16, reports The Dawn. A civilian was also accidentally killed in the shootout, AP reported. A local Police official, Muhammad Khalid, confirmed that security forces had conducted a raid in Hangu. A security source told that the raid was carried out after a tip-off was received that the house was serving as a militant hideout. Muhammad Islam was responsible for orchestrating the suicide attack near an imambargah (Shia place of commemoration) in lower Orakzai's Kalaya Bazaar that left at least 32 people dead and 31 injured. The Security source that Islam had ties to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Read less...

Sindh Police's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) have developed a technical team under its anti-terror wing that has started monitoring all digital platforms amid their growing use for “promotion of ideology of hatred, anti-state activism and militancy”, a senior official said on January 17, reports The Dawn. The fresh development from the Sindh Police came after a series of steps announced by the federal government and institutions, including Pakistan Telecommuni­cation Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), where “the infiltration of anti-state elements and promoters of different ideologies which cannot be dubbed as pro-nationalism” have sparked concerns, necessitating immediate and strong measures. The FIA a few months ago allowed establishing of 15 cybercrime reporting centres in the country. Five of the centres will be opened in Punjab, three each in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), two in Balochistan and one each in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. The decision was taken in accordance with Section 51 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2015, which grants the government powers to take all necessary measures for the prevention of cybercrime. Read less...

Unidentified persons fired a rocket at the house of Sheikh Jan Zada, a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), situated near the Nawagai Bazaar in the Nawagai area of Bajaur District in the province on January 22, reports Dawn. However, no casualty was reported in the incident. Read less...

Spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial Government Ajmal Wazir, on January 30, said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) will be shifted from Bakakhel Camp to their homes in North Waziristan tribal District within two months, reports Dawn. Addressing a news conference in Peshawar, the spokesman said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had directed authorities to address issues of IDPs and ensure provision of basic facilities in the camp. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) foiled a major terror bid, recovering arms, ammunition and explosives hidden underground on January 31 in Ghaibi Neka area of Bara tehsil (revenue unit) in Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports Daily Times. During the operation, 22 mortar shells, artillery missiles, 22 anti-personnel mines, 30 anti-tank rounds, three Rocket Propelled Granades-7 and huge quantity of explosives packed in gunny bag and hidden underground were recovered.Security sources said that the recovered arms, ammunition and explosives were to be used in terrorist activities in Peshawar (Provincial capital of KP) surroundings and to target sensitive locations but timely action foiled the bid. Read less...