Pakistan, April 23 -- Something deeply unsettling is taking shape across the western border. It's something the world's seen play out before, and frankly, it's exhausting watching it repeat. Fitna-al-Khwarij (FAK), a group long recognized by the United Nations as a terrorist organization, is no longer operating in isolation. It has evolved, quietly but efficiently, into a central hub linking various international terrorist outfits. And all of this is unfolding under the less-than-watchful eye of the Interim Afghan Government (IAG).

Over the past year, FAK has deepened its ties with a number of ITOs, turning itself into a de facto umbrella group. It's supplying manpower, facilitating movement, and helping like-minded extremist groups grow...