Understanding suicide bombing through suicide research: The case of Pakistan

In recent years, both suicide and suicide bombing (SB) have increased dramatically in Pakistan, a developing country in South Asia. Suicide had been a relatively rare event, and SB was virtually unknown. Over the last 20 to 30 years, however, there have been countless SB acts with a great deal of casualties. In Pakistan, both suicide and SB acts are mostly perpetrated by young, single men from low socioeconomic strata. Although both are distinct phenomena—suicide is an intensely personal act, whereas the purpose of SB is to inflict injury and death on others—there are common factors such as poverty, deprivation, unemployment, and lack of education. Understanding commonalities in suicide and SB is important for prevention. Prevention programs should focus on improving social conditions that appear to contribute to the frustration and anger evident in people who commit suicide and SB acts.