Most people consider the "Taliban" an ideologically and hierarchically cohesive movement ala 20th Century insurgency. It's not. Instead, it's fragmented, highly entrepreneurial, tribally cohesive at a local level, and open source in structure. Until recently, its successes have led to divisions and a multiplication of goals (from efforts in Swat to Afghanistan). The recent US coerced push (to relieve pressure on Afghanistan) by the Pakistani military into Swat did push back the Taliban faction there.
Open source counter-insurgency would dictate that at the point Swat was regained, pressure should be removed (de-escalation) and divisions exploited to promote infighting between factions. However, exactly the opposite happened (an attempt to achieve maximal goals). The Pakistani military began to extend it offensive operations and US stepped up drone strikes.
A recent announcement and an ambush that killed 16 Pakistani troops in North Waziristan by a Taliban faction headed by guerrilla entrepreneur Hafiz Gul Bahadur suggests the opposite is occurring. His actions, in combination a broadcast of intentions by another faction headed by Maulvi Nazir, imply a focus on a defeating the Pakistani military and a closing of ranks/cooperation.
The Washington Post has more:
"These two, Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadur, they were focused on Afghanistan," said Mahmood Shah, a security analyst and retired Pakistani army brigadier with experience in the northwestern tribal areas. "What we've heard is they've called back their fighters from Afghanistan and are bringing them to Pakistan."
While this may seem to be good news for operations in Afghanistan, it will certainly come at a severe price to Pakistan, particularly if the Pakistani army is forced to withdraw bloodied and more territory is lost. Even worse: this new cohesion opens up the opportunity for the insurgency to go viral in Pakistan.