Pakistan, Oct. 13 -- We've heard the term "cross-border terrorism" for so long that it sometimes loses its meaning, becoming a sterile phrase in diplomatic statements. But for the people of Pakistan's borderlands, and for the soldiers standing guard there, it has never been more real, more brutal, or more clearly orchestrated. The last six months have not just been a period of conflict; they have been a grim unveiling. The mask has finally slipped, exposing the undeniable and deadly nexus between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban-a partnership that is bleeding Pakistan from across the border.

Let's look at the facts, written not in ink, but in blood. From April to September of this year, our security forces have been engaged in a relentless...