In early October, fierce fighting broke out along the 2,600-kilometer Durand Line separating Pakistan and Afghanistan, leaving hundreds of civilians dead or injured. The clashes only subsided after Qatar and Turkey brokered a cease-fire announced on October 19.
Wang Shida, executive director of the South Asia Institute at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told Beijing News this round of violence was far more intense and protracted than the periodic border skirmishes of the past. He noted that both sides maintained a tough stance and engaged in repeated exchanges of fire before finally restraining themselves to avoid full-scale war.
