A local jirga of tribal elders is set to depart shortly for the sixth round of negotiations with the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sources confirmed. The talks, which resumed earlier this week, are expected to reach crucial and possibly final decisions today.

While the peace jirga continues its engagement with the militants, parallel developments suggest a hardened stance from the state. According to credible security sources, government and security authorities have outlined a three-point framework to deal with the presence of militant elements in the region, particularly those of foreign origin.

The conditions call on the tribes to expel these militants on their own. If that is not feasible, the other option proposes that locals temporarily evacuate the area for one to two days, enabling security forces to carry out targeted operations. In the event that neither measure is implemented, authorities have made it clear that military action will proceed regardless, with maximum efforts made to avoid civilian harm—but the operation against the militants will not be paused under any circumstance.

“There is no scope for talks with militants or their facilitators at any level until and unless they surrender unconditionally to the state,” said a senior security official on condition of anonymity.

The official added that while the ongoing jirga is a strategic move to ensure civilian safety before any operation, the state will not compromise with what were termed as “enemies of Islam and the republic.”

“Any armed operation is solely the prerogative of the state,” the source stressed, adding that the values of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s people, Islam, and the Constitution do not allow compromise with such elements.