Pakistan has a long history of talks with the militant outfits for the sake of peace, but it has never resulted in a long-lasting peace, particularly in the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The negotiations with militant factions can be traced back to 2004 when the former president Parvez Musharaf decided to negotiate with the militants after Operation al Maizan (2002) and Operation Kalosha (2004). Consequently, a Shakai Peace Agreement on 24 April 2004 took place.

All these talks, from the very onset till now, have not resulted in long-lasting peace.

The militants like Naik Muhammad tagged this agreement as a piece of words and betrayed the state by breaking the promise and starting violent terrorist activities against the state. This agreement was followed by another talk on 7th February 2005, wherein the government offered amnesty to the militants. The militants first concurred not to challenge the state writ in Waziristan, but again, the militants stepped back from their commitments by challenging the state’s writ.

Similarly, the state has agreed again in 2009 to negotiate with the militant faction of Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) led by Sufi Muhammad. The government had signed the Malakand Accord in 2009 with the militants and agreed to allow this militant outfit to impose its so-called Islamic Sharia in the Malakand division, particularly in the splendid Swat valley. With time, the militants became more ambitious and attempted to conquer Islamabad.

However, the security forces gave them a befitting reply. They have cleared the Malakand region in a series of military operations, including Rah-e-Rast and Rah-e-Haq in 2009. Another famous round of talks happened in 2021-22 that proved to be one of the leading causes in the uptick of terrorist activities in Pakistan. Currently, the fresh round of talks in August 2025 between the TTP, led by Maulana Ilyas, also known as Malang Bacha, and the assembly of elders (Jarga) in the merged district of Bajaur has been initiated for the sake of peace, but all in vain.

All these talks, which are initiated by the government or the tribal council, from the very onset till now, have not resulted in long-lasting peace. They have failed to ensure peace in the long run. Therefore, the government should focus more on the strategy of community engagement in countering terrorism, which is vital for sustainable peace, instead of talks with militants.

The government should focus more on the strategy of community engagement in countering terrorism.

The strategy of community engagement can be productive in ensuring peace, particularly in the merged districts of KPK. According to some experts in counterterrorism, it is one of the best strategies to win the hearts and minds of the local people. Therefore, the counterterrorism efforts should be community-centered.

The government should take the local clerics into confidence, who can play a game-changing role in the prevention of extremism that ultimately leads to terrorism. The local clerics should explicitly portray the message to the people, particularly in the Friday sermons, that no religion allows the killing of innocents, no religion can enable citizens to commit violent terrorist activities in the state, and create mayhem.

As a result of this, many innocent people lost their precious lives, houses, businesses and other belongings. Similarly, they should preach to the people that no militant organization can announce the holy war (Jihad). It is the sole authority of the state to declare a holy war. In this way, the state, with the help of the local communities’ clerics, can minimize the influence and recruitment process of the terrorist outfits.

The local authorities should engage the local people in different sports festivals. It is the sports wherein the local youth can utilize their energy to bring positive outcomes. Engaging locals in sports games can prevent them from exploitation by the hands of the militants. Sports bring unity and harmony to the nations. It can make the communities more resilient and united to show resistance and stand up against the militants, who are damaging their peace and prosperity.

The government should spread awareness regarding family planning, particularly in those areas where there are more terrorist activities. The state should convince the people of these areas through seminars, conferences and Islamic scholars to do proper family planning because a lack of family planning can contribute to radicalization, extremism and terrorism.

For instance, when there are more children in a family whose upbringing is out of control for the parents due to a lack of resources. Eventually, there will be high chances that the militant organizations will recruit and exploit them for their nefarious objectives.

No militant organization can announce a holy war; it is the sole authority of the state.

Providing quality education to the people in every corner of the merged district is another leading strategy to uproot terrorism because it is quality education that can prevent people from terrorism at the very first stage.

The majority of the militants in different terrorist outfits are uneducated, and they have no schooling; they are very prone to manipulation and exploitation. Therefore, it is the foremost duty of the state, according to the Constitution of 1973, Article 25 (A), to provide free and compulsory education to children aged five to sixteen years.

Finally, the government should provide employment opportunities and skills to the people of the merged districts because the terrorist outfits are exploiting the marginalization, poverty, and underdevelopment of the people to recruit them in their organizations by providing economic incentives and using them against the state.

Quality education can prevent people from terrorism at the very first stage.

In a nutshell, winning the hearts and minds of the local communities in the terrorism affected areas through different community engagement strategies can result in a sustainable peace as compared to negotiations with the militants, which have never resulted in a sustainable peace, particularly in the merged districts.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.