640 Pakistanis died in 37 suicide attacks this year

ISLAMABAD - At least 640 people were killed and 1,800 hurt in 37 suicide bombings across Pakistan this year, said a government report.

The report compiled by the Counter-Terrorism Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency states that the suicide attackers targeted security forces, public property, mosques and shrines, foreign diplomats, educational institutions, political leaders, and government offices.

Dawn quoted official sources as saying that 25 of the 37 suicide strikes took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, seven in Punjab, two each in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Balochistan and one in Sindh. Vehicles packed with explosives were used in 10 of the attacks.

Most of the victims were civilians.

The report pointed out that though the number of suicide bombings had gone down, terror groups still had the capability to carry out such strikes against various targets.

The police was the major target of terrorists and was attacked at 10 places. At least 87 Frontier Corps personnel and 81 police personnel were killed and 268 policemen were injured.

In 2010, the attacks began in January itself and the latest attack on police was carried out on the Salman Shaheed Police Lines in Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nov 1.

Suicide bombers struck across the country, including six in Lahore, four in Swat, three in Peshawar, two each in Quetta, Bannu, Mardan, Lakki Marwat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Tank and Azad Kashmir. Suicide bombings also took place in Karachi, Swabi, Nowshera, Karak, Mansehra, Kohat, Hangu and Sargodha.