New Delhi: Twelve soldiers killed last week, 19 last month, five police officers the month before—the mountains west of the Indus, the Pakistan army is learning, is the place violent death calls home. This week, the Pakistan army’s losses in fighting insurgencies and terrorism have risen to points that are causing it genuine anxiety. The country has threatened Afghanistan with cross-border strikes. There have been rumours of an attack on the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Noor Wali Mehsud in Kabul, and leave aside all the froth and speculation, the facts are looking grim.

The Pakistan army’s losses in fighting insurgencies and terrorism have risen to 932 this year, and could cross the all-time record of 1,012, set back in 2009. This isn’t great publicity for a military that cla

See Full Page