Bangladesh, March 11 -- The eruption of open hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan represents far more than a bilateral border dispute. It is a geopolitical shockwave reverberating across Eurasia, threatening to destabilize one of the most ambitious economic and strategic visions of the twenty-first century. For China in particular, the conflict unfolding along the Durand Line challenges a core assumption behind its westward strategy: that economic connectivity can gradually overcome historical tensions and foster regional stability.

What began as a familiar pattern of cross-border skirmishes has escalated into the most serious confrontation between Islamabad and Kabul since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. After weeks of ri...