24-05-2025
Pak ranks 7th in civilian deaths from blasts in 2024, worse than some countries at war
Pakistan was the seventh most-affected country in the world for civilian casualties resulting from explosive weapons in 2024, recording 790 civilian casualties, including 210 deaths, according to a new report that highlights the alarming state of civilian safety in the the total number of civilian casualties in 2024 represented a nine per cent decrease compared to 2023, the number of recorded incidents rose by 11 per cent, from 218 in the previous year, according to the UK-based NGO Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). The country also ranked seventh among the fifteen worst-affected countries and territories documented in the ahead of Pakistan on the list include Palestine (Gaza), Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan, Myanmar, and Syria -- all either war-torn or embroiled in civil conflict. Nations that have a better situation than Pakistan include Russia, Nigeria, Yemen, Iran, and Israel among others, and many among them are also engaged in war or armed conflict.
The report also noted that 2024 saw the highest number of explosive violence incidents in Pakistan since 2014 and the second-highest number of civilian casualties since 2018. It was also the second-worst year for armed actor casualties since vast majority of civilian harm (76%) was attributed to non-state actors. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was identified as a major perpetrator, responsible for 119 civilian casualties in Pakistan during the BLA also emerged as one of the largest non-state users of explosive weapons globally in 2024, accounting for 15 per cent of Pakistan's civilian casualties, a staggering 440 per cent increase from twenty-two incidents in key perpetrator in Pakistan was the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP), responsible for forty-five civilian casualties. Unknown non-state actors were linked to 54 per cent of Pakistan's civilian casualties in 2024, totalling 423 individuals—a decrease from 541 the previous report also underscored that all suicide bombings in Pakistan in 2024 were carried out by non-state actors. Of the known actors, the BLA was responsible for just two per cent of the nine recorded suicide bombing incidents but caused a disproportionately high 89 per cent (92) of the resulting civilian casualties. Unknown non-state actors were linked to six per cent (five) of these incidents and 11 per cent of the civilian InMust Watch
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