Four cops among six martyred in North Waziristan 'suicide blast'

• Police say two civilians also martyred in "suicide attack".
• Pakistan experiences spike in terrorism since 2021. 
• 12 terrorists eliminated in N Waziristan this month.
  

At least six people including four cops were martyred and several others were injured in a "suicide bombing" in North Waziristan, police said on Saturday. 

The law enforcers said that the attack targeted a police post in Eidak area of Mir Ali. Four of the slain individuals were police personnel, they added. 

The injured were shifted to hospital after a rescue operation was launched. Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off by the security forces.

Pakistan has experienced a spike in terrorism since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Most terror incidents are reported in provinces bordering the neighbouring country — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Around a dozen militants were eliminated during anti-terrorism operations by the security forces in KP's District North Waziristan this month, as the military strives to deal with the menace of terrorism in the country. 

A report published by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) earlier this month stated that the third quarter of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns with a 90% surge in violence in the country.

The total fatalities from three quarters of this year surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023, with 722 deaths including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws.

Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan — marking the highest percentage in a decade.

Last year, the country saw more suicide attacks than any year since 2014, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

There were 29 suicide attacks registered, killing 329 people in Pakistan’s deadliest year in a decade.