Surge in Terrorist Attacks During Ramadan in Pakistan Raises Concerns

Pakistan:The year 2024 has been particularly devastating for Pakistan in terms of terrorist activity, with multiple attacks in the early months of the year. While terrorism is often linked to religious extremism, a disturbing trend has emerged during the holy month of Ramadan, where terrorist attacks tend to increase, raising questions about the motivations behind such actions.

**Terror Attacks in Ramadan 2025 and 2024**
On the 10th day of Ramadan in 2025, a terrorist attack targeted the Jafar Express train, while earlier, on the first day of Ramadan, a terrorist assault occurred in Bannu Cantonment, resulting in 9 to 13 fatalities. The attack also damaged a mosque. Just one day before Ramadan started, an explosion at a mosque in Akora Khattak killed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Maulana Hamidul Haq and five others. These incidents mark just a few of the violent events taking place during Ramadan.

**Terrorist Attacks in Ramadan 2024**
The holy month of Ramadan in 2024 witnessed five major terrorist attacks, highlighting the disturbing trend.
1. On March 16, a suicide bombing in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali killed seven military personnel.
2. On March 20, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants targeted the Gwadar Port Authority complex, killing 10 people, including two soldiers.
3. On March 26, a naval airbase attack resulted in the deaths of 6 people.
4. On the same day, an attack on Chinese nationals left five Chinese citizens dead.
5. On March 30, a bomb explosion in Balochistan’s Hernai district killed 15 people.

**Terrorist Attacks in Ramadan 2023**
During Ramadan 2023, 12 terrorist attacks occurred across Pakistan. A notable attack took place on March 29, 2023, when terrorists assaulted a police station in Lakki Marwat, killing four police officers and injuring six others. On April 1, 2023, terrorists also targeted military personnel at the Pakistan-Iran border, killing four soldiers.

**Terrorists View Ramadan as a Blessed Month for Attacks**
Veteran journalist and analyst, Fakhar Kaka Khail, stated in an interview that the Taliban consider the Ramadan month as “blessed” and believe that launching attacks during this period brings them success. He explained that the Taliban believe they defeated the United States, and now they can do the same with Pakistan. Additionally, the Baloch insurgents take advantage of the fasting month as security personnel are physically weaker due to fasting.

**Diverse Motivations Behind Terrorism**
Defense analyst Syed Mohammad Ali emphasized that not all terrorism is religiously motivated. He explained that different terrorist groups have different ideological bases for their attacks. While the Taliban is driven by religious extremism, groups like the BLA are motivated by ethnic and regional factors. Furthermore, global terrorist organizations like ISIS collaborate with local groups to expand their influence.

**US Embassy Condemns Terrorist Attacks**
The US embassy in Pakistan condemned the recent terrorist attack on the Jafar Express and other attacks in the region. A statement issued by the embassy expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their families, stating: “We strongly condemn the attack on the Jafar Express train and the kidnapping of passengers in the Kachhi district of Balochistan. The responsibility for this attack was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which the United States has designated as a global terrorist group.”

**Conclusion**
The increase in terrorist attacks during Ramadan continues to be a serious issue in Pakistan. Various terrorist groups with different motives are intensifying their activities during this holy month, further complicating the security situation. Authorities must take more robust measures to protect the public and prevent further escalation of violence.