By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Though terror attacks and bombings dropped in Pakistan, October emerged as the second deadliest month of the year as fatalities rose to 198, a report revealed on Friday.

Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, said in its report that 198 lives were lost last month, including 98 terrorists, 62 security personnel and 38 civilians, across the South Asian country.

Additionally, 111 people, including 56 civilians, 44 security forces personnel and 11 militants, sustained injuries.

The PICSS noted that October "recorded the highest number of militant fatalities and security forces deaths in a single month this year, with combatants accounting for 81% of the total deaths," it said.

The data showed that the number of militant attacks dropped by 12% to a total of 68 incidents in October but the month still saw a sharp 77% increase in the overall death toll compared to September.

About 87% of attacks, 59 out of 68, occurred in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province followed by Balochistan province with 24 attacks, both provinces bordering Afghanistan.

Other two provinces experienced relatively fewer violent incidents, with Punjab recording six incidents that led to 19 deaths, all terrorists, and Sindh reporting four incidents with six fatalities.

"Pakistan has endured a total of 785 militant attacks during the first ten months of 2024, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries, reflecting a persistently high level of violence across the country," according to the report.

Earlier, August remained the deadliest month for Pakistan in the past six years, when 254 people, including 92 civilians and 54 security personnel, were killed in militant attacks and bombings.

Terror attacks increased in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved and announced a "reinvigorated" national counter-terrorism campaign in June to "eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country.”

However, the announcement triggered opposition and criticism from political parties and locals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Islamabad accuses "Afghan-based" TTP militants of carrying out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, while Kabul denies the allegation that its soil is being used against its neighbors.