By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Militant attacks in Pakistan surged by 38% in August compared to the previous month, even as the death toll from those attacks declined sharply, according to new data from a leading Islamabad-based think tank.

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) recorded 199 militant attacks across the country in August, up from 144 in July.

However, the human cost was significantly lower: 158 people were killed and 181 injured in August, compared with 268 deaths and 216 injuries in July -- a 41 percent decline in fatalities and a 16 percent drop in injuries, the institute reported Tuesday.

Pakistani security forces continued intensive counter-terrorism operations throughout August, resulting in 211 deaths, including 203 militants. An additional 21 militants were injured and 26 suspected militants were arrested.

Regionally, security forces killed:

• 115 militants in Balochistan

• 56 militants in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

• 32 militants in the merged districts of KP (formerly known as FATA)

One of the most notable trends was a substantial decline in suicide attacks. August recorded only three such incidents, including two vehicle-borne suicide attacks. This represents a sharp drop from July, which saw eight suicide attacks -- including five vehicle-borne attacks -- marking the highest monthly total in the past decade.

Kidnapping incidents also fell by 36 percent, dropping from 66 in July to 42 in August.

Balochistan remained the most volatile province, recording 89 militant attacks in August, up 7% from July's 83. Despite the increase in attacks, deaths in the province fell from 162 to 76, and injuries dropped from 86 to 47. Security force operations there resulted in 118 deaths, including 115 militants.

Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (excluding merged districts) saw attacks jump by 50%, from 36 in July to 54 in August. Deaths declined from 69 to 44, while injuries fell from 96 to 70.

The merged districts of KP -- the tribal areas along the Afghan border — recorded the sharpest increase, with attacks surging 126 percent, from 23 in July to 52 in August. Deaths there edged down slightly from 36 to 34, while injuries rose from 33 to 59.

In terms of militant tactics, tactical assaults (targeted military-style attacks) were the most frequently used method in August, with 47 incidents. These were closely followed by:

• Target killings — 46 incidents, resulting in 50 deaths and 23 injuries

• IED attacks — 36 incidents, causing 15 deaths and 50 injuries

Other provinces saw relatively limited militant activity:

• Punjab: Two attacks, three deaths, five injuries; security forces arrested five suspects

• Sindh: Two attacks, one death; two suspects arrested

• Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan: No attacks recorded

The sharp rise in attacks in the merged districts along the Afghan border, however, remains a concern for Pakistani authorities, particularly given the porous nature of the frontier and the presence of various militant factions operating from Afghan soil.