At least 49000 people, including soldiers, civilians, government-backed militiamen and militants have been killed in Pakistan in last 12 years.
Islamabad, March 27/Nationalturk – At least 49000 people including soldiers, civilians, government-backed militiamen and militants have been killed in Pakistan in its “war against terror” since September 11, 2001 attacks on United States.
“Pakistan has lost 49,000 people since the attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon in the United States on September 11, 2001,” Pakistan’s spy agencies told country’s Supreme Court during a hearing related to a case about deployment of armed forces to help the civil administration restore law and order.
They said more than 24000 people – both civilians and troops – were killed in terrorist attacks from 2001 and 2008. “Over 25000 people died during military offensives against Taliban militants in the restive tribal regions since 2008”.
15681 Pakistani soldiers killed since 2008
According to spy agencies, Pakistan’s armed forces have suffered 15,681 casualties while fighting Taliban militants in tribal areas since 2008. “Over 200 members of tribal peace committees, or Lashkars, including volunteers and chieftains, were also killed and 275 wounded in targeted attacks in the last three years”.
“At least 5152 civilians have been killed and 5,678 injured in bomb blasts and suicide attacks since 2008 in tribal areas. Similarly, 3,051 militants were killed and 1228 injured in security forces operations during the same period,” they said.
The spy agencies in their reply to Apex court said there were 235 suicide bombings, 9,257 rocket attacks and 4256 bomb explosions in Pakistan in last five years.
Taliban militants destroyed 1030 schools, colleges
They said the Taliban militants destroyed 1030 schools and colleges in country’s restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province from 2009 to 2013.
“The militancy in tribal region was at its peak during 2007- 2008. However, actions taken by the law enforcement agencies had restrained the militants’ strength. The terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not as effective today as it was before 2008 when it challenged the writ of the country,” the spy agencies said.
The warned of more attacks by militants in the country if detained militants were released by the court. “It will be difficult to contain them and they could start a new wave of violence in cities like Karachi and Lahore and other parts of the country”.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
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