Roundup: 267 killed in 105 bomb blasts across Pakistan during Jan-June 2015

At least 267 people were killed and 517 others injured in 105 bomb attacks including 11 of suicide nature that occurred across Pakistan during the first half of the current year 2015, according to official statistics.

According to the data, the 11 suicide attacks killed 133 people and left 215 others wounded in different areas of the country during Jan-June 2015. Terrorists conducted two suicide attacks in January, three in February, one each in March, April and May, and three in June.

During the said period, the number of suicide attacks dropped by 50 percent as compared with the same period of the previous year when 22 suicide blasts took place.

The number of suicide attacks dropped after launch of the military operation "Zarb-e-Azb" against local and foreign militants in the country's northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan.

As the country's military and law enforcement agencies carried out successful actions against terrorists, the number of attacks dropped by almost 47 percent against 200 attacks during the same period last year, while number of total casualties plunged by around 48 percent from the previous year, when 510 persons killed.

In terms of the number of deaths, the first month of 2015 was the worst hit period when 97 people lost their lives and 104 others sustained injuries in 16 bomb attacks. The month of February was the second most affected that left 68 people killed and 176 others wounded in 35 attacks.

The worst attack of the period occurred on Jan. 30, when suicide bomber attacked a Shia Muslims' mosque in the country's southern district of Shikarpur during Friday payers timing, killing 61 people and injuring 50 others. Jundullah, a splinter group of Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group that has been based in the country's northwestern tribal regions at Pak-Afghan border is wanted in connection to a wide range of terrorist attacks in the country.

On Feb. 13, the second worst attack happened when a group of terrorists including suicide bombers attacked a Shia Muslims' mosque in northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar. At least 24 worshipers were killed and 50 others wounded who sustained injuries from bullets and splinters of suicide blast.

On March 15, at least 19 people including two policemen were killed and 70 others injured when two suicide bombers attacked two different churches at the same time in Youhanabad area of the country's eastern city of Lahore.

The statistics revealed that terrorists carried out 105 bomb attacks at the same number of targets, killing 225 civilians as well as 31 personnel from security forces and 11 policemen.

On June 8, a suicide bomber attacked a check post of security forces in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan and killed seven soldiers.

Most of the bomb blasts was triggered with remote control devices that were planted on the roadsides.

Majority of the attacks were not claimed by any group, however Pakistani Taliban and its splinter groups claimed major blasts including suicide attacks.

Defense analysts said that the drastic drop in the attacks was the result of successful execution of the military operation Zarb- e-Azb.

On June 15, Pakistan celebrated the successful one year of the Zarb-e-Azb launched in North Waziristan, once the stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations, the mouthpiece of Pakistan army, at least 2,850 militants have been killed and over 1,000 others arrested while 348 soldiers have embraced martyrdom so far in the military operation.

Pakistan army claimed to have recaptured and cleared more than 90 percent area of the region and have destroyed hundreds of hideouts, including bomb making factories and command and control centers of the terrorists. Pakistan army reportedly has been gearing up for the final assault in the remaining parts of the region, especially in the areas bordering Afghanistan. Endi