Because they haven't been just barely managing to survive for two decades. They got their asses kicked in 2001-02, retreated to relatively safe territory in Pa

Because they haven't been just barely managing to survive for two decades. They got their asses kicked in 2001-02, retreated to relatively safe territory in Pakistan. And then have been fighting for the past 20 years. They've occupied territory in Afghanistan for over a decade. It's just never included cities before now. While their land in Pakistan isn't totally safe, it's their refuge. They have to worry about drone strikes and hush-hush raids, but they are relatively safe there.