The year 2015 marked a significant decline in terrorism-related incidents in the tribal areas of FATA. In total, 293 militancy and counter militancy incidents were recorded from all the seven agencies of FATA in the year 2015. However, militant violence declined by 40 % compared to 2014. In 2015, 1679 people were killed and 561 were injured. 13 incidents of target killing; 43 incidents of militant attacks on civilians, 60 incidents of militants ambush on military and 17 incidents of militant attack on member peace committee were recorded. A total of 13 cross-border attacks were carried out by militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban and ISIS, who are stationed in the Afghan border areas. Similarly, four incidents of kidnapping for ransom and three incidents of armed clashes between various militants outfits occurred in different areas of FATA.
Although a nose dive in militancy incidents was witnessed during the year 2015 yet the challenge to eradicate militancy and extremism are huge and manifold. Pakistan remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks in 2016 due to ISIS’ emergence and its expansion in the Pak-Afghan region; growing rifts and divisions among Afghan Taliban; proxy war between Pakistan on the one hand and India and Afghanistan on the other. The role of Afghan government in facilitating Pakistani Taliban in regrouping and re-establishing their networks may trigger a massive wave of terrorist attacks in Pakistan in the near future. Therefore, it is imperative for both the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to co-ordinate and collaborate with each other to abridge the long standing trust deficit between the two countries and also initiate sincere and effective sharing of intelligence information and better border coordination for they are pre-requisite for resolving the decades long turmoil which has brought havoc to entire region. In this regard the release of Mullah Baradar is a positive move which can contribute not only in abridging the rifts among Afghan Taliban but will also help in reviving the peace process between Afghan government and Afghan Taliban.
Click Here to Download FRC Annual Report Security Report 2015
