After the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and the fall of Mullah Omar's regime, a wave of political and religious support for the group arose in Pakistan. Despite Islamabad joining the anti-terror coalition, several religious parties, religious leaders and armed groups have rallied to support the Taliban and send fighters to Afghanistan by condemning the US invasion.
Meanwhile, Malana Sufi Muhammad mobilized thousands of people in Malakand to fight alongside the Taliban by launching a campaign called "Jihad Afghanistan". At the same time, Pakistan's tribal areas have become havens for the Taliban, al-Qaeda operatives and foreign fighters.
According to experts, religious schools, religious organizations and local militant networks were involved in the recruitment and reorganization of the Taliban. Figures like Baitullah Mehsud, Nik Muhammad Wazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur were also influential in the process. Journalist Rafatullah Orkazai wrote in an article in Afghanistan International that these networks later helped strengthen the Afghan Taliban and establish the Pakistani Taliban. As a result, Pakistan's tribal areas became important centers of Taliban military organization and planning.