During the first three months of Year 2015, Federally Administered Tribal Areas passed through disturbed period where the violent conflict between militants and military remained at its peak. In total 736 casualties, 543 killings and 193 injuries happened during the above mentioned reporting period. The worst affected agency remained the volatile Khyber Agency where military operations were under way.
A few militancy trends were specifically notable in this regard. Terrorist attacks and target killings occurred in Bajaur while in Mohmand, terrorist attacks were the prevalent trend. Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency remained the most sensitive area, where militants from Lashkar‐e‐Islam and Tauheed‐ul‐Islam were in a tussle. Orakzai Agency remained largely peaceful, except for three terrorist attacks that claimed three lives. Kurram Agency received significantly high number of casualties, especially in Shabak area which remained the most disturbed and 2 incidents pertaining to guerilla activities from across the Pak‐Afghan border were observed in the agency. Not much was reported from North Waziristan owing to the prohibition of entry of media people in the agency while in South Waziristan, periods of tranquility were reported except for a couple of incidents that caused 20 casualties.
The counter militancy strategies in FATA based largely on search operations. However, artillery shelling was also carried out in few areas of Kurram Agency where terrorist attacks prevailed. Likewise, a full‐fledged military operaon [Khyber 1] was also at work in Khyber Agency and according to military reports, a large portion of Bara subdivision has been cleared. Apart from the ongoing military operation Zarb‐e‐Azb, which according to military sources has dismantled militant networks in North Waziristan, 5 drone attacks in distinct areas North Waziristan Agency were reported where 38 militants were killed while 23 were injured. A full‐fledged military operaon is at work in South Waziristan [Ladha, Makeen and Dwatoe] which began in March 2015 and has forced many militants’ commanders to flee to the mountains of Shawal area of North Waziristan and Afghanistan.
