Two Attacks Per Day -- Terrorism in Pakistan, 2006

And now, a stark look at the problem of terrorism in Pakistan, supposedly one of our greatest allies in the War on Terror. Amir Wasim seems to have some trouble with a bit of the math in Terrorism dogs Pakistan in ’06: Over 900 killed in 657 attacks but otherwise he does all right:

Terror attacks killed almost two people a day in 2006
...
907 people dead

Almost two people a day? Unless Pakistan has more days in a year than we do, 907 dead in a year would be significantly more than two people a day -- nearly two and a half. However...

Other interesting numbers emerge from the statistics mentioned in the report:

6% Sectarian, 3% al-Q'aeda

According to the research study, 657 terrorist attacks, including 41 of a sectarian nature, took place in the outgoing year, leaving 907 people dead and 1,543 others injured.
...
The research study puts the number of people arrested by law-enforcement agencies at 1,552, including 1,094 Taliban and Afghans, 47 Al Qaeda operatives, 198 other militants and 213 nationalist insurgents.

So it would seem strange to mention al-Q and sectarian terror as leading factors, but still:

The government blamed the terror attacks on insurgents in Balochistan, operatives of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and sectarian militants.

Right. Do you see a pattern here?

We know who to blame ... for everything! ... already!! Don't bother us with facts!!

Bugti Killing Brings More Horror To Balochistan

According to the research study, the killing of veteran tribal chief Nawab Akbar Bugti in a clash between security forces and his men-at-arms was the main violent event of the year 2006 which caused “a ripple effect on the political horizon in the country”.

"The Federally Administered Tribal Areas proved a big trouble for the government and security agencies as tribal Taliban started re-organising their ranks in those areas…Tribal Taliban and militants kept on hitting security agencies and other anti-Taliban elements and killed 39 locals on suspicion of spying for the US forces."

The research study says that the airstrike -- blamed by locals on US aircraft -- that left over 80 inmates of a religious seminary in Bajaur was “the biggest event of the year in the tribal areas that invited further trouble for security agencies and marred efforts for peace agreement".

You always have to question the old "air-strike on a political-leader" trick as a method of building lasting stability and security. Or at least I do.

But then what do I know? I always thought Pakistan had 365 days in a year ... just like we do.