Return of the Taliban

FRONTLINE reports from the lawless Pakistani tribal areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and reveals how the area has fallen under the control of a resurgent Taliban militia. Despite the presence of 80,000 Pakistani troops, the Taliban and their supporters continue to use the region as a launching pad for attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. In a region little understood because it is closed to most observers, FRONTLINE investigates a secret front in the war on terror.

Directed by Martin Smith, Return of the Taliban leans on a strong ensemble — Latif Afridi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Richard Lee Armitage — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2006.