I guess you did not read the entire article. The USSR left Afghanistan in 1988 & the US stopped funding Jihad in Afghanistan. Who was funding and support Taliban and other extremest groups between 1988 and 2001? PA. In fact, it was official policy and well known one, too. Even now, there are plenty of people with religious leanings in security forces, including army and ISI, that are backing Taliban. That is no secret and its reported by everyone in the media, including Pakistani media.