Final answer:
After American strikes, the Taliban were driven from power in Kabul, but they escaped to mountainous areas in Pakistan. They continued to operate from there while the U.S. focused on stabilizing Afghanistan and later contended with the Iraq War.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the massive American military attacks, the Taliban fighters were initially ousted from power in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul. However, they, along with Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, managed to escape and find sanctuary across the Afghan border in the remote and mountainous regions of northern Pakistan. Despite the efforts of the U.S. and their allies, the rugged terrain provided the Taliban and Al Qaeda's leadership a place to evade capture. Over the years following the initial invasion, the Taliban retreated to southern parts of Afghanistan and into Pakistan, from where they continued to operate. During this period, the United States military pursued a multifaceted strategy of countering Al Qaeda, supporting the rebuilding of Afghan society, and establishing a democratically elected government, although challenges increased due to the spread of the U.S. military focus to Iraq in 2003.