I see.....and this is considered a branch of Al Qaeda or a Separate Entity of its own ?
I apologize for the silly questions, i'm just trying to educate myself in this through members here rather than reading media opinions.
Basically here is what happened.
In 1979, Soviet Troops invade Afghanistan to back a communist coup in Kabul. Many different groups unite to fight the Communist Kabul Government and their Soviet Allies. By 1989, Soviets Leave and by 1992 the Communist Kabul Government Falls.
Civil war breaks out between the various groups who had fought the Soviets earlier. Basically a fight between the extremist and secularists as to how to govern Afghanistan.
Pakistan's economy is being damaged due to the new influx of refugees coming from Afghanistan, growing drug trade and trade links between Pakistan and Central Asia being damaged.
Pakistan uses the Taliban which is a small group trained and educated in Pakistan to guard Trade Convoys between Central Asia and Pakistan.
By 1993, Pakistan decides to let the Taliban govern Afghanistan and to bring stability to its western border by openly backing them and giving them arms.
By 1994, the Taliban emerge as the most powerful group in Afghanistan and by 1996 Kabul falls to the Taliban. The secularists form an alliance called the Northern alliance and retreat to northern afghanistan. The northern alliance are led by the chrismatic Masood who fought the soviets.
In 1996, Osama bin Laden flees Sudan and comes to Afghanistan.
In 1997, Zawahiri's group kills 57 Tourists in Luxor, Egypt...trying to destroy Egyptian tourist industry and damage the egyptian economy. Egypt cracks down hard and Zawahiri's men flee to Afghanistan. they meet osama bin laden and form an alliance called Al Qaeda
In 1998, they started to launch global attacks, first the attacks on US embassies in Africa and then attacked the US Cole in Yemen in 2000.
As the Arabs arrive, they started making the Taliban govt more extremist.
In 2001, they launch 9/11 attacks and a day earlier assassinate Masood, the leader of the Northern alliance so that USA could not use Northern alliance against the Taliban. Al Qaeda hoped that USA would invade Afghanistan with 500,000 troops and Al Qaeda and Taliban would grind them down just like they had done to the Soviets and bring the same result they had done to Soviets.
The Taliban get their asses kicked and the Northern Alliance doesn't fall apart. They retreat to Pakistan's FATA area. The Taliban take over the FATA area and brainwash the local population. They want to bring a Taliban style government in Pakistan.
They take over Swat in 2008 and Pakistan kicks them out. They launch terrorist attacks and Pakistan is fighting them right now.
The kind of Islamic Ideology they espouse to is driven by Al Qaeda. The Al Qaeda are almost 100% Arab and since Pashtuns look up to Arabs...whatever kind of Islam they preach...the pashtuns think its the truest form of Islam.
Al Qaeda are pretty much the generals and commanders and the Taliban are acting like their foot soldiers. Al Qaeda have brainwashed them into launching this jihad and turning Pakistan into Taliban style government.
Here is an analogy to Nazi Germany which might make things clear.
Osama bin Laden - Adolp Hitler
Al Qaeda Leadership - Nazi Party
Al Qaeda Foot Soldiers - SS Troops
Taliban Militants - Regular German Troops
Hope that makes things clear.