Pakistan's military has been fighting an insurgency along its border with Afghanistan. Islamabad has blamed Pakistani militants allied with the Afghan Taliban government for the attacks. Will a ceasefire agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, bring peace?

Kabul

Pakistan's military has faced significant challenges from a persistent insurgency, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the government blaming the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for much of the violence. Islamabad claims that TTP fighters receive support and training in Afghanistan, an allegation denied by the Taliban-led Afghan government. Recent months have seen deadly cross-border attacks between the two countries, resulting in substantial casualties among security forces and civilians. In response, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire after retaliatory strikes on both sides. However, questions remain about the Afghan Taliban's willingness and ability to curb the activities of their ideological allies, the Pakistani Taliban, as historical ties complicate enforcement of the truce.

Pakistan-Afghanistan truce: Will the Taliban rein in allies?

It has been quite a year for the Pakistan's military. It claims to have downed Indian jets with the help of Chinese technology in May. And Pakistan's government signed a defence pact with Saudi Arabia. But at home, the military is being fiercely challenged by a relentless and a deadly insurgency, mainly in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Footage like this. Funerals of security personnel killed in militant attacks is now a common sight on news channels. Islamabad blames the Pakistani militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP for most of the violence. Islamabad says the militants enter Pakistan through its long border with neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan and independent UN experts say TTP fighters are receiving training and support in Afghanistan, something the Taliban-run government denies. Just this year, Pakistan has lost about 1,000 security forces and hundreds of civilians in terrorism incidents. This month, Pakistan retaliated by carrying out attacks deep inside Afghanistan's territory, including the capital Kabul and the province of Kandahar, claiming it was targeting militants. Afghanistan responded with its own cross-border attacks. After dozens of people and security personnel were killed or injured on both sides, a ceasefire agreement has been reached between the two governments. But can this ceasefire reduce the militancy threat for Pakistan? For the Taliban in Afghanistan, although they've become the government, they have social bonds, they have camaraderie, they have ideological alignment and they have a lot of friendship with the Pakistani Taliban. And now the Taliban in Afghanistan are being asked, the government of the Taliban, to crack down on these Pakistani Taliban that are responsible for attacks in Pakistan. And I feel that it's going to be very, very difficult for the Afghan Taliban to go against their comrades. Pakistan says the ceasefire agreement with the Afghan Taliban hinges on their ability to rein in militant attacks. But history suggests the Afghan Taliban are unlikely to turn on their militants' allies.

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