KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A man and a woman were killed in eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province over allegations of an illicit relationship, local Taliban authorities said on Monday.
The incident took place in Paktika’s Yahyakhel district on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Taliban police command.
The statement said three suspects had been arrested in connection with the case and that an investigation was underway. Authorities did not disclose the identities of the victims or provide further details about the circumstances of the killings.
Cases involving allegations of illicit relationships continue to be reported from different parts of Afghanistan, with perpetrators often identified as relatives of the woman involved.
In a similar incident last week, a young man and a young woman were shot dead in the Bazarak area of Kuz Kunar district in eastern Nangarhar province. Local sources said the woman’s brother carried out the shooting after accusing the pair of being involved in a romantic relationship.
So-called “honor killings” have long been reported in Afghanistan, particularly in rural areas where family disputes, tribal traditions, and conservative social norms can influence responses to perceived violations of social codes.
While no official nationwide statistics are available, local media and rights organizations have documented numerous cases in recent years. Reports of such killings continue to emerge from provinces across the country.
