Pakistan is a South Asian country with a diverse culture, a rich history, and strategic geopolitical significance. Since its inception in 1947, the country has struggled with its political, economic, and social issues. Some core issues are: political instability and weak institutions, economic struggles, security and extremism, education and human development, foreign policy challenges, and climate and resources mismanagement. However, the most pressing issue of today’s Pakistan is terrorism, which is engulfing the state from within, and it needs effective and immediate attention. Extremism and security are the deep-rooted causes of instability and unrest in Pakistan.

Pakistan needs a cost-effective strategy centered around community engagement, intelligence, and disrupting terror financing.

Generally, the solution for this unrest and terror in Pakistan is presented through short-term, mid-term, and long-term approaches. The short-term approach involves crackdown and intelligence operations, the mid-term approach encompasses law enforcement and judiciary, and the long-term approach includes education and socioeconomic uplift. These approaches seem apparently fascinating, however, things get messy when it comes to the practical application of these approaches. That is the reason why Pakistan lags behind in countering terrorism despite using resources and force. If Pakistan is to break the shackles of terrorism and implement these goals, it would be required to re-evaluate these approaches and shift its focus from a “government vs people” mindset to a “people’s government” approach.

A common approach, traditionally being presented, is that Pakistan should increase funding to the military-related counter-terrorism initiatives or the related strategies. However, the ground reality is that Pakistan lacks funds. The government needs a cost-effective strategy centered around community engagement, intelligence, and disrupting terror financing. Anonymous reporting systems should be created via community networks, SMS and mobile apps to keep a check on terrorist activities.

The large-scale military actions require heavy spending, hence, the government must invest in AI-driven surveillance systems utilizing existing Telecome and NADRA databases in order to track the suspects (Khan, Li, Khan, Khan, Hadjouni, Elmannai 2023). Establishing a new counter-terror force demands a hefty sum, which Pakistan will struggle to spend given its bleak economic conditions. Therefore, a more cost-effective approach would be to merge CTD, FIA, and IB under a unified command with civilian oversight.

Another practically free strategy for an economy like Pakistan would be to disrupt terrorist funding. Foreign donation networks like hawala/hundi should be cut off through tracking banks and mobile money transfers (Altaf, Israr, Khan, 2024). The bank accounts and properties of individuals linked to terror groups must be confiscated. Terrorists more often resort to online fundraising. The government must work with tech companies in order to block terror-linked fundraising pages on social media.

The government must change the battlefield from violence to ideas.

An effective strategy for making Pakistan tolerable and terror-free would require converting extremist groups into internal power struggles, that is, to divide and weaken them. Pakistan must turn the uncompromising groups like sectarian militias, TTP and Baloch separatists against each other. The government should support ‘soft militants’ and turn them against the hardcore elements. Anti-TTP Taliban factions should be supported to create a rift and divide. Most of the terrorist leaders have luxurious living standards, however, their foot soldiers die. This hypocrisy should be leaked through intelligence and propaganda, and it should be revealed how these groups receive foreign funding. Doing this would gradually and progressively turn the public opinion against these groups. To resolve the issue of TTP, Pakistan must address its differences with Afghanistan.

One of the biggest causes of unrest in Pakistan is certainly that of Afghanistan. The common suggestion for this is that Pakistan should negotiate with the Afghan Taliban and complete the border fencing, as this porous border is responsible for terror and unrest in Pakistan (Ali, Khan, Khan, Khan, Ahmad 2020). This is an irrational strategy that has failed so far. Afghanistan is hesitant about cooperation. Given Afghanistan won’t cooperate, Pakistan is required to create a ‘buffer zone’ instead of enforcing full control. To counter the influence of TTP near the border, tribal groups in Afghanistan should be funded. The Afghan villages should be offered trade incentives to report terrorist movements. Pakistan-based trade zones should be created inside Afghanistan, providing the locals with economic alternatives to terrorism.

Apart from ideological battles, judicial institutions and the role of law enforcement to counter terrorism in Pakistan can not be ignored (Tahir 2020). Pakistan’s efforts in countering terrorism have been hindered by an inefficient judicial system. The legal system must be strengthened for fair trials in terrorism related cases. Fast-track courts should be established for terrorism related trials. The tribal areas should be given authority for low-scale trials and a justice system for taking the locals into confidence, making them feel secure for their involvement in the judicial system of the state.

Another common stated approach to counter terrorism is to take local tribal leaders into confidence to fight terrorism in tribal areas, and the persons who are willing to renounce terrorism should be offered jobs in exchange. These strategies, however compelling enough in theory, when it comes in practice. In a country where even PhDs are struggling for jobs, it is quite challenging to generate jobs for an exchange offer (Akhtar 2024).

Inclusive governance will minimize the underlying cause of deprivation in underdeveloped regions.

As for the tribal leaders’ support, the harsh reality is that most of the tribal leaders themselves have reservations, paving the way for terrorist activities. Some tribal leaders are anti-state, but many desire power. The government must work with those who want a system where they also retain some power or have a share in the governance. This will ensure inclusive governance in Pakistan and minimize the underlying cause of deprivation in underdeveloped regions of Pakistan, like Balochistan. Furthermore, education and awareness in Pakistan are also necessary as a long-term strategy to counter terror and extremism in Pakistan.

Awareness and Education around Pakistan also seems effective, however, objectivity of this dream also vanishes when one comes to know that the youth which has already developed an anti State or anti government agenda in these areas is resistant to swift changes and the more government tries to educate them on this pressing issue through awareness campaigns, the more they get exploited through terrorist groups. Education is necessary to make young minds aware and conscious of the potential exploitation of their minds. However, Pakistan needs a long-term, shrewd, and indirect strategy instead of relying on traditional force or economic incentives. Given the fact that tribal areas in underdeveloped regions consider education as westernization, simply educating the youth would not specifically yield productive outcomes when it comes to countering terrorism. The government should break the conservative cycle without a full-scale military action.

Conservatism itself isn’t the problem, the issue is the way it is being exploited. Therefore, rather than enforcing Western modernity, Pakistan needs to initiate ‘conservative development’. Education should be promoted as a religious obligation using tribal elders and Islamic scholars. Quranic teachings should be linked to modern education. If the radicalized youth perceives the government as an enemy, the government must change the battlefield from violence to ideas. The youth should be channeled into governance and politics instead of treating them as criminals. Pakistan should shift power dynamics from within instead of enforcing change from the top. The objective is not to control the people, it is to make terrorism an unappealing option and to offer alternatives to gain respect and power.

By shifting its strategy from hardcore military actions to community-based initiatives, Pakistan can design a terror-free future.

As a long-term approach, interfaith harmony is also an important and effective counter terrorism tool (Hayat, Anwar 2025). Through this, the sectarian tensions that promote terrorism can be reduced. Religious minorities should be given protection and economic incentives, so that they don’t become vulnerable to extremism. This will also ensure the reduction of terror-related acts, as minorities are also being targeted in Pakistan for the promotion of terrorism.

Pakistan’s war on terrorism needs an across-the-board approach, involving economic steps, educational initiatives, digitization of counter-narratives, intelligence-based policing, and law enforcement. This will make the dream of a tolerant and terror-free Pakistan a reality. By shifting its strategy from hardcore military actions to community-based initiatives, Pakistan can design a terror-free future, restoring public trust and national reconciliation.

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.