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Pakistani Groups Note Drop in Violence, Credit Military

by Associated Press

   ISLAMABAD --

   Two Pakistani research groups have noted a significant drop in militant
   violence in the country last year but say that for the trend to
   continue, authorities need to fight sectarian and anti-Indian
   extremists based in the most populous Punjab province.

   The two Islamabad-based groups credited the military for the drop,
   specifically military operations in the lawless tribal regions
   bordering Afghanistan, in the chaotic port city of Karachi and the
   sparsely populated Baluchistan province.

   The Center for Research and Security Studies says there was a 45
   percent drop violence-related deaths last year, compared to the year
   before. The Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, which tallies violent
   incidents, registered a 28 percent drop in attacks in 2016, compared to
   2015.

   The findings, based on the groups' records, were released over the
   weekend.