The Islamic Republic of Pashtunistan(Pashto:د پښتونستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Da Pax̌tūnstān Islāmī Jomhoriyat), commonly known as Pashtunistan (پښتونستان, Pax̌tūnstān), is a self-declared state which occupies the southernmost provinces of Afghanistan. Pashtunistan is only recognized by neighboring Pakistan (as well as a few other nations); it is generally recognized as a rogue government which is occupying southern Afghanistan. Established in 1999, Pashtunistan is considered the successor state to the Pakistani-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (which formed around 1995 from the government in exile). Since 2000, a UN-backed ceasefire has kept conflict between the two to a minimum.