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I think that what the British are hoping for is a transition from insurgent to political. Menachem Begin went from Irgun commander to Prime Minister of Israel. Ian Paisley (Unionist Party) and Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin/IRA) became the First and Deputy Prime Minister after the shooting finally stopped in 2006. Ghandi, while not a terrorist, still gave the British a lot of pain until he became the defacto leader of India in 1948.
This doesn't even count the treasonous rebels like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc. After the guns were put away, they had pretty successful careers in politics.
Besides the armed militias, al-Sadr has a large popular base, in any unrigged election, this will translate into political power.
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