... mustering comparable forces. By 2002, nearly a million soldiers stood against each other along the borders, and mutual shelling increased. The world held its breath, fearing that the two nuclear powers would enter open warfare. Leaders of the U.S., Europe, and Russia actively mediated, urging restraint. By summer 2002, the crisis had been defused: both sides gradually withdrew troops from the Line of Control. Although direct confrontation was averted, dialogue between the countries remained frozen ...