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CWA # 1610, 7 March 2025
NIAS Pakistan Reader
Continuing Suicide Attacks in Pakistan: Why, Where and Who

  D Suba Chandran

On 4 March 2025, a suicide attack on the Bannu Cantonment in the Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the killing of five women, four children and six militants. The militants, according to the media reports, armed with explosives in two vehicles, were trying to enter the cantonment. A day earlier, another news report mentioned a woman suicide bomber targeting a paramilitary convoy in the Kalat district of Balochistan and killing a soldier belonging to the FC.

On 28 February 2025, in another major suicide attack, Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani leader of the JUI-S leader, was killed with six others in a suicide bombing at Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Nowshera district in KP. Maulana Haqqani was the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, founder of the JUI-S; Samiul Haq also headed the Darul Uloom Haqqania, founded by his father, Maulana Abdul Haq. The Darul Uloom Haqqania is considered the birthplace of the Afghan Taliban; leading members of the Taliban, including Mullah Omar, Sirajuddin Haqqani and Jalaludin Haqqani, studied here.

According to a report published by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) and referred by the News, Pakistan witnessed an increase in militant attacks in January, when compared to December 2024. According to the data, in January 2025, there were 74 militant attacks resulting in the killing of 20 civilians, 35 security forces, and 36 militants. In January 2025, most militant attacks occurred in two provinces – KP and Balochistan.

The above trend continued in February. According to the PICSS data, the militancy-related casualties in February were 55 civilians, 47 security forces and 156 militants. For a detailed review of the above, see Rohini Reenum, “Trends in Terror attacks in February: More Civilian Casualties than Military, focused on Balochistan and KP,”  Pakistan Reader, 04 March 2025, https://globalpolitics.in/view_cir_articles.php?ArticleNo=1607&url=NIAS%20Pakistan%20Reader&recordNo=1625.

Trends in militancy-related events and casualties during the first two months of 2025 appear to continue from 2024. According to a press release by the PICSS, militant attacks increased by 40 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. In 2024, there were  1,177 casualties, including 488 civilians, 461 security forces, and 225 militants. 

There has been a spike in militant attacks and casualties during the last 14 months. However, an important aspect of the above data relating to militant attacks during 2023-2025 is related to suicide attacks. In 2024, according to the PICSS data, there was a decline in suicide attacks inside Pakistan, when compared to 2023.

Why do suicide attacks continue in Pakistan, and why are they focused mainly in KP and now in Balochistan? Besides the suicide attack by a lone woman bomber last week in Balochistan, last year, on 10 November 2024, a major suicide attack in the Quetta railway station in Balochistan witnessed more than 25 civilians getting killed.

Who, Why and Where?
Based on the available data, the following three points could be made.
The suicide attacks, though smaller in the percentage of overall militant attacks – highlight the geographic trend – primarily KP and Balochistan. According to PICSS data, of the 17 suicide attacks in 2024, 12 of them took place in KP.

While the TTP and its affiliates normally claim responsibility for suicide attacks in KP, Baloch militant groups are blamed for the suicide attacks in Balochistan. 

The suicide attacks, though smaller in overall numbers, have a high casualty rate. Unlike the regular militant attacks using hand weapons and grenades, the use of suicide bombs ends up having more extensive casualties, causing more panic and widespread destruction. Despite the security measures, it is easier for a suicide bomber to slip in wearing a vest than carrying a machine gun. The lethality and the approach could be two reasons why militant groups use suicide attacks.

The target of suicide attacks seems to be varied. From assassinating religious leaders like Maulana Hamidul Haq in Nowshera in KP to killing civilians in a railway station in Quetta in Balochistan, the victims belong to different categories. However, in KP, especially in the tribal districts, the security forces, cantonments and check posts have been the primary targets during the last 15 years.

There have also been occasional suicide attacks outside the above two provinces. These were well-planned and high-profile attacks with a larger casualty. 

Will suicide attacks continue in Pakistan?
Though one could trace suicide attacks in Pakistan since 2001-02, it witnessed an alarming increase during 2007-2017. Since 2017, there has been a decline. However, the attacks continue. According to a PICSS report released in January 2025, there were 550 suicide bombings in Pakistan since 2001.

As a counterstrategy, the security forces across the world took time to devise means to prevent suicide attacks. However, they continued. Unless the perpetrators change their strategy or are entirely wiped out, counterstrategies to prevent suicide attacks have been less effective. 

About the author
D Suba Chandran is a Professor and Dean of the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS.

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