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PTC Web Desk: Pakistan emerged as the seventh most-affected country in the world for civilian deaths caused by explosive weapons in 2024, according to a new report released by the UK-based NGO Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). The report documented 790 civilian casualties, including 210 fatalities, underscoring the escalating threat to civilian life from explosive violence in the country.

Although the total number of civilian casualties in Pakistan in 2024 represented a nine percent decline compared to 2023, the report also highlighted a concerning 11 percent increase in the number of recorded incidents—rising from 218 in 2023. This indicates a broader geographical or operational spread of violence, even as total casualties showed a marginal drop.

Pakistan’s placement on the list follows only behind Palestine (Gaza), Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan, Myanmar, and Syria—all nations enduring either war or internal conflict. Surprisingly, countries such as Russia, Nigeria, Yemen, Iran, and Israel—each engaged in various forms of armed conflict—ranked lower than Pakistan, painting a grim picture of Pakistan's internal security environment.

The AOAV report notes that 2024 recorded the highest number of explosive weapon incidents in Pakistan since 2014. It also marked the second-highest civilian casualty toll due to such violence since 2018 and the second-worst year for armed actor casualties since 2015, suggesting that the intensity and impact of explosive violence are reaching unprecedented levels.

The data revealed that a staggering 76 percent of civilian harm was attributed to non-state actors, marking them as the primary source of civilian suffering. Among these, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) stood out as the most prolific group, being responsible for 119 civilian casualties. The BLA also ranked among the top non-state users of explosive weapons globally, accounting for 15 percent of Pakistan’s total civilian casualties in 2024—a 440 percent increase from just 22 incidents in 2023.

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP) was also identified as a key perpetrator, causing 45 civilian casualties during the year. Meanwhile, unknown non-state actors were responsible for 423 civilian casualties, representing 54 percent of the total in Pakistan. However, this figure marked a decline from 541 civilian casualties linked to unknown actors in the previous year.

Suicide bombings: All executed by non-state actors

The report also highlights that every recorded suicide bombing in Pakistan in 2024—a total of nine incidents—was carried out by non-state actors. Although the BLA was responsible for just two percent of these incidents, it caused an outsised 89 percent (92 casualties) of the civilian deaths resulting from these attacks. On the other hand, unknown non-state groups were tied to six percent (five) of the suicide bombings, causing 11 percent of the civilian casualties.

The AOAV findings point to a worsening internal security situation in Pakistan, where even as total casualties dipped slightly, the frequency and impact of violent incidents rose sharply. With non-state actors playing a dominant role in these attacks, particularly in Balochistan and areas targeted by IS-KP, the government faces significant challenges in curbing militancy and protecting civilians.