Pakistan reports a new clash with Afghan forces along border

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Clashes erupted Tuesday between Pakistani and Afghan forces in a remote northwestern border region, with state-run media in Pakistan accusing Afghan troops of opening “unprovoked fire” that was repulsed.

Pakistani forces responded, damaging Afghan tanks and military posts, according to Pakistan TV and two security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Tahir Ahrar, a deputy police spokesperson in Afghanistan’s Khost province, confirmed the clashes but provided no further details.

This is the second time this week that the two sides have traded fire along their long border.

According to Pakistan’s state-run media, Afghan forces and Pakistani Taliban jointly opened fire at a Pakistani post “without provocation,” prompting what the media described as a “strong response” from Pakistani troops in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Security officials said Pakistan's military also destroyed a sprawling training facility of the Pakistani Taliban.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan’s military, which has been on high alert since Saturday, when both sides traded fire across multiple border regions, resulting in dozens of casualties on each side.

Although the clashes halted on Sunday after appeals from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, all border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained closed.

Over the weekend, Kabul said that it targeted several Pakistani military posts and killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for what it called repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace. Pakistan’s military reported lower figures, saying it lost 23 soldiers and killed more than 200 “Taliban and affiliated terrorists” in retaliatory fire along the frontier.

Tensions have remained high since last week, when the Taliban government accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes in Kabul and in an eastern market. Pakistan has not acknowledged those allegations.

But Pakistan has previously launched strikes inside Afghanistan, saying it targets hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which is separate from but allied to the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring the group, which has carried out numerous deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the charge, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.

Associated Press writer Abdul Qahar Afghan in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, contributed to this story.

Local residents, who fled their homes following border clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces, wait for transportation in Chaman, a town on the Pakistan side of the border, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/H. Achakzai)

People bring a man, who was injured in the clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces in border area, for medical treatment at a hospital in Chaman, a town on the Pakistan side of the border, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/H. Achakzai)

Local residents, who fled their homes following border clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces, wait for transportation in Chaman, a town on the Pakistan side of the Afghanistan border, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/H. Achakzai)

Drivers sit beside their trucks as cargo vehicles bound for Pakistan remain stranded on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing, which stayed closed after clashes, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

A line of cargo trucks bound for Pakistan is stranded on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing, which remained closed after clashes, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

A line of cargo trucks bound for Pakistan is stranded on the Afghan side of the Torkham border crossing, which remained closed after clashes, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Steve Smith took a brilliant reflex catch to end England's obdurate seventh-wicket partnership and then Ben Stokes' defiant half-century ended quickly as Australia set up a victory chase of just 65 for a 2-0 Ashes series lead.

It was a tale of two captains.

England skipper Stokes had dug in, curbing his attacking instincts, to get England through the first three hours on Day 4 unscathed and give the tourists a small lead after starting Sunday 43 runs in arrears in the day-night test at the Gabba.

Stokes shared a 96-run stand with Will Jacks (41) that got England to the brink of the night session, but that ended when Smith — Australia's stand-in captain — took a stunning one-hander diving to his left at slip off Michael Neser's bowling to break the partnership.

That was the momentum changer. The slide then happened quickly, with England losing four wickets for 17 runs to be all out for 241 in its second innings and Neser finishing with a five-wicket haul.

Stokes took a single to reach his 50 from 148 balls, the second-slowest half century of his career. It was only four balls behind the 152 he needed to make 50 at Headingley in 2019, where he scored an unbeaten 135 with the tailenders to guide England to a stunning, unexpected, one-wicket Ashes victory chasing 359.

This time, he didn’t go on. He was caught behind by wicketkeeper Alex Carey standing up to the wickets to Neser.

Stokes twirled his bat in the air in disbelieve and smacked the front of his helmet as he strode off.

At that stage, England was 227-8. Brendan Doggett dismissed Gus Atkinson to make it 231-9, with Smith taking a regulation catch this time. Neser (5-42) and Smith combined to remove Brydon Carse (7) to end the innings.

England had resumed Sunday at 134-6, and took an hour and 36 minutes — 18.2 overs — to score the 43 runs needed to erase the deficit, batting watchfully against an Australian attack.

Stokes dispensed with Bazball and pragmatically set about reviving England's Ashes prospects with a watchful 36 in the first session of the day.

It gave England a 16-run lead at the break but, more important, it kept the day-night match alive at the Gabba and ensured Australia would have to bat again.

The Australian attack bowled a tight line and length and mixed it up with some short-pitch deliveries in an attempt to entice the usually aggressive England batters to have a go.

Stokes and Jacks resisted the temptation for the entire afternoon session, knowing that a wicket would expose the tailenders. It was a completely different approach to England's usual attack-at-all costs mentality that has attracted wide criticism in the first two Ashes tests so far.

Australia won the series-opening test on Day 2 of the scheduled five. At least the second test has gone well into a fourth day.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Michael Neser, second left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of England's Will Jacks during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's captain Ben Stokes lies down after being hit by the ball during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Australia's Michael Neser shows the ball after getting five wickets during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's captain Ben Stokes throws bat after loosing his wicket during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's captain Ben Stokes plays a shot during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's Will Jacks plays a shot during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's captain Ben Stokes reacts in the hot condition during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

England's captain Ben Stokes avoids a bouncer during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)