History provides many examples of the punishments and sacrifices, usually pointless, that Russian rulers can order in the name of speedy modernisation.

ECONOMIST: The chaos at the door

The Kremlin's apparent willingness brazenly now to strike at its foes wherever they may be is all too reminiscent of past, ruthless measures taken by Russian and Soviet rulers to crush internal and external dissent.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Putin's back to the future

Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), of which Khyber is a part, is essentially a buffer between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and was carved by British colonial rulers out of Afghan territory as a bulwark against a possible Russian invasion of British India.

BBC: Was 'Bin Laden doctor' Shakil Afridi an unsuspecting pawn?