Asif Mahmood

The election of Suhail Afridi as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has drawn quiet concern in Islamabad. The reason lies not in personalities but in timing. The province is once again facing a wave of militant violence, and the leadership in Peshawar will play a decisive role in shaping Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.

Over the past year, terrorist activity has increased sharply in border districts such as Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, and Lakki Marwat. Militants crossing over from Afghanistan have targeted security forces and police posts. These areas, once relatively stable, now face growing insecurity. Officials believe that even a brief pause in counterterrorism operations could allow militants to regroup and spread further across the province.

In his first speech after being elected, Chief Minister Afridi emphasized dialogue and political engagement. While the idea of talks is not new, Pakistan’s past experience with peace agreements offers difficult lessons. From the Shakai and Wana accords of the mid-2000s to the Swat agreements and later efforts in 2021, each attempt at reconciliation was followed by renewed violence. Militants used ceasefires to reorganize and expand their control rather than to pursue peace.

For years, Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies have worked tirelessly to restore stability in the tribal and settled districts. Between 2014 and 2018,........

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