Terrorist Attack on Passenger Bus in Chilas: Rising Surge of Terrorism in Pakistan

In a terrorist attack on a passenger bus in the Chilas area of Pakistan, 9 people were killed including two soldiers, and 25 others were among the injured. According to the local administration, the incident took place in the Hudur area of Chilas. The bus was targeted and subsequently collided with an oncoming truck, leading to the unfortunate event.

“The victims hail from various regions across Pakistan, including Kohistan, Peshawar, Ghizer, Chilas, Roundu, Skardu, Mansehra, Swabi, and two individuals from Sindh”, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ahmad told local media.

In this “cowardly act”, two Pakistan Army soldiers lost their lives, and one personnel of the Special Protection Unit sustained injuries. Diamer Superintendent of Police (SP), Sardar Shehryar, highlighted that the initial responders at the scene were police officers who handled the deceased and the injured. He added that the truck involved in the collision was also engulfed in flames, resulting in the demise of its driver. “The remaining vehicles were secured and formed into a convoy, and the location was cordoned off to gather evidence”, SP explained.

Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Mr. Haji Gulbar Khan strongly condemned the “cowardly act of terrorism” in a statement from his office. “A special team has been assembled to investigate the incident thoroughly, with a commitment to ensuring that the terrorists responsible for this tragic incident will face appropriate punishment and justice under the law. The government will deploy all available resources to apprehend the criminals. The government of Gilgit-Baltistan will cover all expenses for the injured and provide enhanced medical facilities. Strict orders have been issued to law enforcement agencies for the immediate arrest of the culprits, overseen by the GB inspector general of police to identify anti-state elements and ensure stringent punishments. In this challenging time, the GB government stands in solidarity with the affected individuals”, said the statement. The chief minister affirmed that the blood of the martyrs will not be in vain, and justice will be served to all perpetrators.

According to an eyewitness, the bus was traveling smoothly, and all of a sudden firing started from nearby mountains, the firing continued for 10 minutes, the driver tried to rush the bus but unfortunately, it collided with a truck and got fired. “It was the worst-ever phase of our life, we were not sure that we would survive”.

GB Home Minister Mr. Shams Lone, in a press conference, also condemned the attack, stating that nine people were confirmed dead and 25 injured according to the government’s count.

Increased Surge of Terrorism

The escalation of terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, has increased notably in recent months. This surge follows the termination of the ceasefire by the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan with the government last year. The security situation in these regions has become a cause for concern due to the augmented incidents of violence and unrest.

According to data gathered in September 2023 by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the number of militant attacks in August marked the highest monthly count in nearly nine years.

In a single month, there were 99 attacks across the country, marking the highest number since November 2014. The figures provided by the Islamabad-based think tank were less than the 147 attacks claimed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with many of them unverifiable through independent sources, according to PICSS. The recorded attacks, verified by the think tank, led to the tragic loss of 112 civilians and security forces personnel, with an additional 87 individuals sustaining injuries.

The data revealed an 83 percent month-on-month surge, with 54 reported attacks in July compared to 99 in August. Four suicide attacks occurred in August, distributed between three in tribal districts and one in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the first eight months of 2023, the country witnessed a total of 22 suicide attacks, resulting in 227 fatalities and 497 injuries.

In August, Balochistan and the erstwhile Fata region were particularly impacted by violence. Balochistan experienced a 65 percent increase in attacks, rising from 17 in July to 28 in August, while the latter saw a 106 percent surge, with attacks increasing from 18 to 37. Notably, both regions recorded a decrease in fatalities, with a 19 percent and 29 percent reduction, respectively.

Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also witnessed a surge in attacks, increasing by 83 percent from 15 in July to 29 in August. Correspondingly, deaths and injuries rose by 188 percent and 73 percent, respectively. The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its splinter groups primarily targeted the province, claiming responsibility for several of the attacks.

On the other hand, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), Pakistan was ranked the 6th worst terrorism-hit country in 2022 while the ratio increased in 2023.